It is 1 a.m in Kisii town. The booming music from Club Havana would make one think the night has just started. There is a man seated by the entrance selling cigarettes, chewing gum, packets of condom among other things.
There are three girls standing nearby. They would pass as ordinary partygoers. Two of them are partially hidden. One who is brightly dressed in a yellow ‘college’ jacket and a striped short skirt stands by the light exposing a set of very light skinned thighs that are a near yellow.
Further down the street is slightly dark with poor illumination. The main source of light comes from the security lights atop Aga Khan Hospital gate just across the street.
This street stands in stark contrast to a nearby one that boasts of an array of street lights and a collection of neon signs and disco lights illuminating the line of discotheques with blaring speakers facing the tarmac below. Most of the speakers are suspended along rails facing the main road.
A man clutching a bottle of coca cola in his left-hand approaches the ladies. They sandwich him as each seeks to create an impression. The intention is obvious. What follows is a haggling process reminiscent of a cattle market.
One lady who seems to be in her early thirties is evidently heavy with child. This is no street for cowards. One needs to know the way around to be able to maneuver without difficulty.
A small chart with her and she volunteers to unveil to me in detail how the female prostitutes are converting the small town into a robbing den at night. Because of security purposes, her name is concealed.
” The gang mostly operate behind Total petrol station here in the town” she starts narrating. “They are located just behind the Total Filling Station in the street that passes behind Hema Hospital. She continues…
They have turned into thieves and robbers. When you are passing by they call you (which is of course normal for prostitutes). When you enter into a room you negotiate the price which ranges between Kshs. 300 and Kshs. 500.
Immediately you enter the room, those outside start monitoring your actions in the room by peeping through the door. Now close to the window there is a load of luggage which the prostitute giving you the service instructs you to put your luggage and all your clothes on top of it.
It is placed close to the window and the load is tall enough to allow someone from outside to see whatever is put on it.
The window is partially closed.
The lady you are with grabs you well, massaging your back, ensuring that your head is down as someone from outside the window is checking your clothes and milking every single coin and other gadgets from your pockets and briefcase (if you have any).
They also do not return change…
They have hired some guys who can clobber you or chase you away if you try to complain or ask for your change. If you are a weakling the ladies can fall on you and ransack everything within your disposal.
I felt bad when last week Tuesday they stole Kshs. 7200 from an unsuspecting client in such a manner, and I don’t know whether he realized that they are the ones who took the money because while he was quenching his thirst with one of the prostitutes another was frisking his pockets from the window” She narrated.
According to Anne Chepkurui, a qualified sociologist and a don at Kisii University, the proliferation of middle-level colleges and university campuses in Kisii town is a major contributor to the rising cases of ‘flesh’ trade and increased rate of HIV prevalence. She avers that college students are in search of ‘good’ lives at the expense of their health.