Sex Work is Work !!!!!!!!!!!

Published on 12/08/2011

As the sex workers' activist, Daughtie Ogutu, 27, wants these girls to be allowed to contribute to nation building. To her, sex work is a trade, like any other, writes JOYCE MUTHEU

You claim to be the first woman in Africa to openly declare your PROFESSION as a sex worker? Really?

Yes, I wanted to put a  human face to ‘sex worker’. Many sex workers speak out in public but usually under a silohutte to protect their identity. But I decided it’s time to put a face to what other see as an object of defilement ,a face so that others can realate with.

How did you get into sex work?

After losing my parents to Aids in my teens, I relocated from Nairobi to the Coast. While there, I faced many challenges so I started to engage in sex work at the age of 15. I have worked as a sex worker for ten years and that’s why I speak about it with passion.
 Fahamu, what is it all about?

Fahamu is a pan-African social justice organization , The program that i work under is called the Reclaim Initiative, which offers support to LGBTI and Sex Worker's Movements across Africa!

It  all  started in the First ever sex workers Conference in Johannesburg , which I attended and one of the outcomes was to create an African movement dedicated to fighting for the rights’ of sex workers.

Together with other members, we formed the African Sex Workers Alliance (ASWA) To which i am a one of the Founders and a Board Member — a platform for educating sex workers across the continent on their rights. 

Later, we formed the Kenya chapter — Sex Workers Alliance (KSWA) —. Last year, I left my post as the Kenyan co-coordinator of Aswa to join Fahamu as a programme associate in the Reclaim Initiative.

What does your work entail as a sex worker’s activist?

I meet policy makers to dialogue on the rights of sex workers and I educate the girls on their rights. At times, I engage with members of Parliament. I particularly remember during the ‘Warembo Ni Yes’ constitution rally where I was the only ‘abnormal’ woman who stood up pushing for the rights of an otherwise illegitimate group.

What rights are these?

Sex workers’ rights are fundamental human rights. For instance, sex workers are denied healthcare services in hospitals because of their work. There is also the right to security because they are often raped or mugged at night while working. We did our research and discovered that instead of enforcing the law police, city and municipal council officers just harass and assault sex workers.

what gains have have you made in your activism?

First, sex workers have gained visibility. Our message is that: "We are here and are part of the community, but you have silenced us and ignored us." So being seen and heard is an achievement for us.

We have also significantly reduced the stigma. Gone are the days when we were called by derogatory words like prostitutes or sluts. Moreover, our interaction with civil society organisations has secured us donor funding for our projects. Finally, we have managed to incorporate sex workers in condom distribution and peer education.

Engaging in commercial sex is a crime in Kenya. What’s your take on that?

Our Constitution is vague on sex work; because a term like prostitution has not been officially defined yet the act is termed illegal.

Does this situation pose any legal challenges for you?

Yes, although the confrontation between the City Council and sex workers activists’ has always been hands-off. Many times, we end up in police cells or in courts but there is never proof that we are sex workers. In the end, we are forced to answer to charges of loitering with intent.

What challenges do you face as a sex workers’ activist?

The community is intolerant and blames us for being immoral. There are also women who accuse us of stealing their husbands, infecting them with STDs, breaking families and moral values.

From your observation, how rampant is sex work in Kenya?

There are new trends in the industry, the latest being the presence of male  sex workers. There is also the strong presence of minorities like gays, lesbians, transgender, bisexuals and intersex among us.

In a nutshell, what do sex workers want?

We want sex work to be decriminalised in Kenya.This way, sex workers would be able to operate in a safe environment, enjoy health and labour rights and be part of trade unions. In return, the government can earn revenue from sex work through tax, because the industry has a lot of untaxed money.

So are you still a commercial sex worker?

I am an inactive sex worker, that is, one who no longer engages in the activity. But when relating with sex workers, I identify myself as one of them and I even dress in their colours so that they can relate with me.