More than 500 sex workers in Nanyuki yesterday urged the Laikipia county government to recognise and fund them.
The twilight girls have formed a group, Laikipia Peer Educators, to push for their recognition. They are urging the county government to fund the group to help them start income generating projects.
A top official of the group said they are ready to pay taxes. She asked the Laikipia government to give them licences and let them do their work freely.
“We want this government to recognise our business and to give us licences. We are even ready to pay taxes. This is a job like any other. We want to be funded like any other youth group,” said one of the officials of the group.
The sex workers lamented that they have been stigmatised for many years. They said they are turned away from health facilities.
Through the group, the sex workers have been trained by APhia Plus and USAid groups on HIV/Aids, alcohol and drug abuse, gender violence and family planning.
However, Laikipia county health director Ronald Mogol said the government is committed to offering health care to all people including sex workers “who are at risk of being infected by many diseases”.
He said they will prioritise marginalised groups, including pastoralists, in the provision of healthcare. Edward Miano, the executive director of Health Rights Advocacy Forum— an NGO—said marginalised groups like sex workers should be involved in health matters by county governments.
Source-the-star.co.ke
Give us Funds, Laikipia Sex Workers Tell County
