From streets to online: The rise and rise of digital prostitution
Digital transformation is here to stay, not only in companies but also in other sources of livelihood across the country.
Just as John Chambers stated, at least 40 per cent of all businesses will die in the next 10 years, if they don't figure out how to change their entire firms to accommodate new technologies.
Prostitutes have changed their ways of 'business' to stay put and survive the current economic state.
They are now moving from streets, and fully functioning digitally, in simple terms —embracing technology.
On a normal day, Valentine Wanjiru(not her real name) makes approximately Sh500,000 from her TikTok, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and OnlyFans accounts without leaving her house.
While on a 'dry day,' she gets Sh50,000—this might be from one client or just tips she gets from potential clients.
"I ensure my phone is fully charged and with good internet access."
She says men are always online to 'buy' sex during breakfast and mostly lunch breaks.
"I only sleep for four hours a day, as I am always online, either sending nude photos or negotiating prices with my clients," Wanjiru said.
With the social media apps, all she does is post 'thirst trap' photos, firstly on her insta- stories as a first assignment and tag men she knows will repost, and that's how she gets direct messages from clients of the day.
For Facebook, Wanjiku says she generously sends a nude pictures to men who appear to be rich, and look 'sex deprived', she, however, rarely post on her feed as most of her family members use the social media platform.
She says one thing about men, is that they will pay for sex, whether in a happy marriage or in a shaky one.
"During the covid-19 pandemic, I identified an app known as OnlyFans, with this app, men flock there to see nude photos and videos, and they pay as they watch, I have on many occasions masturbated on live video for a Romanian national and he paid Sh50,000 for 3o minutes," she narrated.
One would wonder how prostitution is conducted on WhatsApp. Wanjiru's WhatsApp clients were initially shy from being discovered by mutual friends.
"From my street friends, about 11 of us, we created a WhatsApp group and because we don't have mutual clients, one posts my 'sexy nude' picture on her status, accompanied by my number and that's how I get clients," she said.
Wanjiru says she returns the favour by posting a photo of a friend as well, and at times sends a commission.
For TikTok, the act is mostly conducted through live sessions, mostly from 1 am, as the time is generally known for lonely married men to be online, being consoled by pretty ladies, says Wanjiru.
She notes that her clients from other counties are not married, except for Kenyan men.
"I fully focus on married men as my Kenyan audience, sorry to say but they live a miserable life, from being treated badly by their wives to being denied sex, or if granted, they have a timetable," she said.
With the 'digital prostitution', Wanjiru says her life has improved, in terms of where she lives, what she eats and how she dresses. Her house is now her office.
"I had to invest in where I live, so that people who come for my services during lunch breaks, don't have to pay for rooms," she said.
However, she says this arrangement has put her life at risk, as some men don't go to her house with good intentions.
"A few weeks ago, a guy had pointed a gun at me as I had refused to give into his sexual pleasures, he wanted to pee inside my mouth and I refused, luckily the security guard was on stand by and he rescued me," she narrated.
Esther Kasyoki(not her real name), on the other hand, has had her fair share of scammers from 'digital prostitution.'
She says as a beginner, following her retrenchment from her former employer, she didn't know how to handle people online.
All she knew was to constantly send nude photos, and perhaps, get a rich client just as her friend.
"My first client had sex with me on credit. After finishing our deed, he faked a call and left the house, when I called him, he promised to send money the next day, only to send Sh5,000 after two weeks," Kasyoki said.
Kasyoki was introduced to the 'business' by a friend who was thriving in the trade, something she says she has never experienced.
"Most of my clients are those that pay Sh2,000, at times as low as Sh500, I have sent nudes severally but all has been in vain," she said.
On a normal day, Kasyoki earns Sh30,000 if she meets more clients, and Sh500 on slow days.
"I have been doing the same things as my friends, but I haven't made much. At this point it is safe to say the streets are much better."
In December 2021, Nakuru Town East MP David Gikaria proposed a law seeking to delete a section of the law that gives police powers to arrest any person who in their judgement is idle and disorderly.
He proposed an amendment to Section 182 of the Penal Code which lists those engaging in commercial sex work in public places, beggars, and drunkards causing a breach of peace as idle and disorderly.
Section 154 of the Penal Code states that "Every woman who knowingly lives wholly or in part on the earnings of prostitution, or who is proved to have, for the purpose of gain, exercised control, direction or influence over the movements of a prostitute in such a manner as to show that she is aiding, abetting or compelling her prostitution with any person, or generally, is guilty of a felony."
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