A sex worker awaits male clients on a street. [PHOTO/Standard]After City Hall passed a Bill banning commercial sex in the city, Nairobians have come out saying the legislation is in bad faith and will not take effect.
Nominated Senator Millicent Omanga was among those to poke holes in the law and termed the move as unfair and inappropriate.
She also said the government needed to train sex workers on how to trade safely and champion for their rights."The clients too must be cognisant of the fact that the women are human beings and require humane treatment. I strongly oppose the move and demand that these women be given audience so that a way forward is found through a proper organisational framework that works for all," said the senator.Another resident Edwin Ouko said the move was bound to fail since no law has ever successfully banned the practice in the past.
"Banning the oldest profession in the world is not going to work. You cannot prove prostitution in court, one can only be charged for loitering," Ouko said.
"Even if banned, prostitutes will still go about their businesses. Kenya will not be the first or the last country to legalise prostitution. In Ethiopia and Senegal prostitution is legal to people above 18 but owning a brothel is illegal," Ouko said.
Eliud Ayuma, another resident, also found fault in the authenticity of the move.
"It was there even before Jesus Christ came to the world. What they are doing is not going to work," Ayuma said.
"Furthermore, legalising it will protect sex workers from crimes such as sexual abuse, rape and sexual harassment," Ayuma said.
The Nairobi County Assembly passed the ban last Friday.
Upper Savannah MCA Elijah Omung'ala defended the ban saying prostitution was against the moral fibre of the society.
"I think there are other ways to make money other than prostitution. It is only people who are lazy that turn to prostitution," Omung'ala said as reported by the Standard.
"Regardless of whether the trade has been there since the olden days, a law must be there, and it will be implemented to the letter," Omung'ala added.