As darkness kicks in, the streets illuminated by street lights are left nearly empty with only a few boda boda operators and taxi drivers in sight.

Just as majority of Nakuru city goes to sleep, a different breed of people come to life.

Like the curious person I am, I scouted Nakuru’s streets and found out that those who thrive in the dead of the night are mostly the women of the night, party goers and most obviously, thieves and the police.

Outside Culture Mambo night club in Nakuru city centre.

Photo credit: DILIGENCE ODONGO/MTAA WANGU

My curiosity takes me on a hunt for commercial sex workers at Kanu street; Nakuru’s very own red light district.

As I walk along this street, of course accompanied by a friend for extra security, I seek a twilight girl who’ll indulge my curiosity. My best bet being one that is standing alone.

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Soon, I identify my target, Crystal*, who reluctantly agrees to help shed some light on her experience in an exclusive interview with Mtaa Wangu.

From the very onset, Crystal is wary of my identity and intentions. Thirty minutes later, she agrees to open up.

A teary-eyed Crystal shares, " I left an abusive marriage five years ago and had to escape with my then six-month old baby girl. When I escaped, all I could think about was that I didn’t want my daughter to grow up in such a violent environment,” she shares.

Crystal says she didn’t know how hard it would be to make a living as a primary school drop-out and live the comfortable life her husband had accustomed her to.

She reveals that it was not long after she was introduced into sex work.

“It was initially tough for me but what kept my head above the water was the continuous thought that my daughter needed me.”

After a while, she began reaping big money and was able to cover both hers and her daughter’s financial needs.

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Since then, she has embraced being a woman of the night.

While sharing her story, she reminisces on the glory days, when she would walk home with as much as Sh 5,000 in a night.

However, since the Covid-19 pandemic hit, Crystal sadly admits to offering a steamy night session to customers for as low as Sh50 with the lodging payment being offered separately.

"The business has really gone down but I still get enough to pay my bills and provide basic needs to my daughter," she adds.

Asked whether she would opt for casual labour like washing clothes, Crystal says she has considered it, but the job would not give her as much money as she makes currently.

As I keep scouting through Nakuru’s streets in the wee hours of the night, I notice there are upcoming red light streets scattered across the newly crowned city.

Some of the commercial sex workers have expanded their business to Kenyatta avenue in Nakuru's city centre.

Photo credit: MERCY PROTAS/MTAA WANGU

Many ladies who probably share Crystal’s story, can be seen strategically standing along parts of Kenyatta Avenue, outside well-known brothels along Gusii Road, Baringo Road and Nehru Pandit Road trying to earn a living.

Soon, my night scouting activities are brought to an end when the day breaks and Nakuru’s nightlife is eclipsed by the usual commotion and rush of Nakuru’s streets.

diligenceodongo@gmail.com

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