LEAHN’s Wilson Edung seeks solution to rising violence against sex workers in Nairobi, Kenya.

 LEAHN’s Kenyan Country Focal Point, Police Inspector Wilson Edung reported that in recent months, violence against female sex workers has “risen tremendously”. Inspector Edung said that several police stations have reported an increase in the murder of sex workers and that police were concerned about this upward trend. Not only is Inspector Edung a champion for respecting the human rights of sex workers, he is personally involved in conducting criminal investigations into the murder of five female sex workers where the perpetrators were yet to be identified.

Inspector Edung noted that in recent times some politicians had made disparaging public statements about sex workers and that this may be linked to inciting anger and violence toward the sex worker community. He reported that police were also investigating the possibility of organised crime groups and high profile critics involvement in the spate of violence.

Sex work in Kenya is not a crime – but anybody living on the proceeds of commercial sex is deemed to commit an offense under the Sexual Offenses Act of 2006. Sex workers are frequently arrested by both the municipal Askaris and the police. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon that law enforcers have made it a habit to frame false charges against the sex workers. Charges, such as, ‘Loitering with immoral purposes’, are often issued against sex workers in Nairobi – charges that contradict the Kenyan constitution which gives all Kenyans the right of freedom of movement.

Recently, sex workers in Nairobi have reported that police and their counterparts (municipal officers) have been arbitrarily arresting them and extorting money from them. Although these allegations clearly amount to corruption, there are no known official cases of police corruption and violence against sex workers lodged with the police. This may be due to reluctance of sex workers to report violence about police to the police in order to initiate an investigation, as well as a lack of confidence in the broader accountability structures available to report corrupt or violent police behaviour. Violence against women has been identified as a risk factor for HIV infection, exacerbated by a lack of protection from criminal justice systems. Among the details of anecdotal reports of illegal police behaviour from sex workers, allegations include that some policemen demand sexual services from sex workers in exchange for not arresting or charging them with minor offenses such as loitering. Some sex workers have reported police using physical force to rape them.

In May 2014, Inspector Edung met with local sex workers and a range of stakeholders to discuss how to address the rising violence against sex workers in Nairobi. In particular, the increased incidence of murder among the sex worker community was highlighted as an urgent issue to be addressed. The important role of police in preventing violence was highlighted and community policing strategies, such as community consultation, are to be expanded. Police training on the issues of human rights for sex workers are to be refined and delivered to both recruits and serving police. The police strategy also promoted the critical role of sex workers in crime prevention – by enhancing communication channels between police and sex workers, police will likely have greater success in detecting and investigating crimes in the community. Inspector Edung also said a big challenge for the police was to stamp out rampant corruption among officers.

LEAHN is committed to supporting the positive engagement of police with community groups at risk of HIV infection and other stakeholders. LEAHN recognises that police can be supportive, and indeed, necessary, partners in the HIV response. As LEAHN Country Focal Point Inspector Wilson Edung says, “Addressing this issue is a challenge, but it is one we must take on as police because we are meant to protect the whole community, not just some privileged parts of it”.

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