You don't make peace between rival brothers by punishing them harder; you let them knock each other's face for them to know the true meaning of peace. This is a statement attributed to my father.Methinks this statement is loaded with wisdom. What was the message behind this statement? You don't correct a condition by becoming too hard and brutal. Allow the person to do it and learn by himself. By allowing we tend to send a clear signal that those with the activity in their hearts can really venture into it. But this is not a license to accept everything.
On 1st December we celebrated the steps we've taken to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS.We clapped and glorified the Almighty. It was a joyous moment. But my point isn't on that.It is about the small thing of prostitution and sex business.It is about what is described as satanic and "unacceptable". It is about the role and place of prostitutes and their clients.Look at this - Nairobi alone hosts approximately 7000 sex workers.If each one serves three clients per day (day and night) this will translate to around 21,000 sexual transactions.Which then translates to 630,000 transactions per month and 7,560,000 cases annually.Yes, this is Nairobi alone.I'm not surprised by these figures.I want us to interrogate what comes after these "transactions".Has somebody tried to offer a solution to this? Is criminalizing this profession beneficial to the nation? If this hasn't stopped or cured it,what should we do? Should it be left the way it is?
Methinks the key reason of having laws is to create a state of fairness and sobriety to all.Laws are meant to cure.They shape the moral and psychological trajectory of a people. Laws are meant to be a "rescue center" for all irrespective of their actions.This is the pillar of a society - accommodating others and not imposing ones beliefs on others.Having this in mind why should we criminalize prostitution? Should we blame the moral decay of a society on a single element - sex? I think the benefits of legalizing this profession outweigh the anticipated "cure" that comes about with criminalization.Lets look at these benefits.
Safeguarding the dignity of a people.I know some people will question what type of "dignity" am talking about with this sex "thing".OK lets look at it! Dignity is an inherent right of any person.It is never given to a person.It is born with him/her.Denial of it is negating the human existence of a person.It is to reduce the person to a level of thing.Is it good to see young girls running away from security officers for fear of being arrested? I think to accept this is to legalize crime under the pretext of preventing prostitution.How many husbands/wives profit from this cover of darkness? Do you think these "clients" will come out if the profession were to be legalized and regulated?Now figure out the dignity am talking about.
Prevention of HIV/AIDS.Self-denial is a dangerous disease.It is a major player in the spread of HIV/AIDS.It creates an atmosphere of blaming others for our own short-comings.It blinds the society.It deviates from the common understanding of tolerance and communal existence. Accepting the place and role of prostitutes calls for elimination of the spirit of self-denial.Doing this leads to the understanding that punishing prostitution is detrimental to the family bond and the society at large.Legalizing prostitution is the way to reducing HIV/AIDS prevalence.This will scare away the "joyriders".It will create a " screened" business.Putting measures such as mandatory medical check-ups and HIV/AIDS tests before and after service will further augment the benefits and reduce the risk of HIV infections.This is what openness brings.Does jailing propose any solutions?
The issue of taxes.A well regulated business is beneficial to the nation.How many billions of dollars go untaxed due to the ban on this trade?Compare that with the amount of money and time lost in chasing sex workers off the streets.If the tax raised from beer is considered "legal",why lock out other avenues under the clouds of "moral protection"?
And this takes me back to where I started; You don't make peace between rival brothers by punishing them harder; you let them knock each other's face for them to know the true meaning of peace.Repeal these punitive and insensitive laws to save the nation.
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