The issue of prostitution in Kenya is one that is sensitive with people having different opinions as to whether it should be legalized or not. For most prostitutes, this is the only way they are able to make ends meet.
There has emerged a bill called “Sexual Enterprises Act 2018” that has been doing rounds on social media saying that the National Assembly is seeking to legalize prostitution in Kenya. However, Parliament has shot down the bill terming it as fake.
A purported bill named Sexual Enterprise bill by Leader of Majority circulating in social media is fake and should be treated with the contempt it deserves. Majority Leader Aden Duale has no such bill either published or having tabled in the House. Please be advised accordingly.
— National Assembly KE (@NAssemblyKE) November 14, 2018
“A purported bill named Sexual Enterprise bill by Leader of Majority circulating in social media is fake and should be treated with the contempt it deserves. Majority Leader Aden Duale has no such bill either published or having tabled in the House. Please be advised accordingly,” read the tweet.
According to the rumours, the bill was proposed by Majority Leader, Aden Duale. The Sexual Enterprise Bill 2018 which is allegedly a mock Bill by students at the Kenya School of Law has ignited debate on whether Kenya was about to legalise prostitution.
The students said legalisation on prostitution would protect commercial sex workers, promote health standards through mandatory screening and use of condoms and generate revenue for the government through taxation and licensing.
“It will reduce the rate of unemployment and poverty by recognising commercial sex work as a form of employment, provide mechanisms for the reduction of sexual exploitation of minors, human trafficking and forced commercial sex work through regulation of the trade,” the mock bill states.
The bill further stated that prostitution would develop local communities in which commercial sex enterprises can operate and create harmony and education on alternative sources of revenue.
The bill also proposes the establishment of a regulatory agency, the Sexual Enterprises Authority of Kenya which will register all licensed commercial sex workers and establishments.
It states that a person eligible to practice commercial sex work should be above 18 years, unmarried, should not have an STI, mental illness or drug addiction and should be a Kenyan citizen. As part of the registration, those who want to practice prostitution should present their birth certificate, certificate of good conduct, KRA PIN and a medical report for licensing.
Further, the mock bill proposed that licensed operators must provide health information for both workers and clients so as to not exploit their employees. Every commercial sex business operator will be required to take steps to ensure condoms are used.
A person operating a commercial sex premise without a valid license shall be liable upon conviction to a fine not exceeding Ksh. 5 million or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years.
The students from the Kenya School of Law also added that advertisements for services should not be broadcast on radio, TV or cinema but may be advertised as classified adverts on newspapers.
Assuming the proposed bill was actually true, do you think the it would ever see the light of day if tabled in parliament?