At least 100 commercial sex workers were on Thursday arrested during a crackdown in Nairobi CBD.
The operation was conducted by officers from the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) in collaboration with the police.
The clampdown came after traders in the city centre complained of nuisance, saying the call girls were operating in broad daylight outside their shops, thereby distracting their customers.
“The traders filed several complaints against the group, particularly sex workers whom they claimed were operating in broad daylight near their stalls,” a senior officer at Central police station said.
He added: “Some of the women openly entice men walking on the streets. Several victims have complained of sexual harassment by a section of the sex workers, who pull them to corridors for negotiation.”
The officer said the sex workers may have resorted to working during the day owing to the 10 pm to 4 am curfew meant to curb the spread of Covid-19.
“The traders said the sex workers were using foul language near their shops, making their customers uncomfortable. The most affected businessmen and women are those operating on Duruma Road and its neighboring streets.”
Central Day Nursery School along Ngariama Road wrote to the NMS and police complaining that twilight girls had camped outside the institution.
NMS officer William Kangogo, who is in charge of the operation, said the crackdown to flush out sex workers, beggars, and muggers from the CDB will last one month.
