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Sex workers scaring away investors from Nakuru, business owners warn


The large presence of commercial sex workers in Nakuru Central Business District during the day is scaring away potential investors and customers, a new survey says.

The commercial sex workers are now considered as a big hindrance to normal operation of business in the CBD.

Results of the survey carried out by the Nakuru Business Association (NBA) indicate that the business community is now concerned and wants an urgent intervention by the county government and the local administration.

The business community claims it stands to count huge losses if this is not done by the end of the year.

BUSINESS PREMISES

The survey results show that twilight girls and in some cases underage girls strategically position themselves outside business premises, disrupting human traffic to shops.

“These commercial sex workers stand in front of businesses premises and tout our customers which is unethical and embarrassing,” says the report.

Many traders have averred that they have significantly contributed to the slowdown that is being experienced by their businesses.

It is estimated that Nakuru’s red light district along Gusii road, Pandit Nehru road and Kenyatta Avenue has an average of between 50 – 100 commercial workers during the day.

However, their numbers surge as darkness fall and hit up to 200 particularly at the end of the month.

AVOID EMBARRASSMENT

The business community through their umbrella body NBA says that most of their customers have opted to shop elsewhere to avoid the embarrassment of being touted by the twilight girls as they enter shops .

“The ballooning number of commercial sex workers is a real time financial problem as clients have been forced to do their shopping elsewhere to avoid embarrassment” said NBA chairman Mr Muchemi Mwangi.

He observed that the commercial sex workers are fond of touting clients as they enter shops and park their vehicles.

He said by standing right next to the entrance of their premises, the commercial sex workers were a hindrance and were demeaning their businesses.

EVICTED

“Our members have invested millions of shillings in their businesses and some of them are repaying huge bank loans and if the commercial sex workers are not evicted then some of them may close shops as it will not be possible for them to meet other overhead costs such as rent and licenses,” said Mr Mwangi.

He said that if the county government managed to evict an army of hawkers from the CBD which was a thorn in the flesh of the traders, then it should apply the same tactics to forcibly evict all the commercial sex workers in the town.

The survey was conducted for five days between September 19 and 23 and involved 240 business community members.