Kenyan Sex Workers Alliance (KESWA)
Nairobi, Kenya
The Kenya Sex Workers Alliance (KESWA), also known as Key Affected Population Health and Legal Rights Alliance, was founded in 2010 after the first African Sex Worker conference held in Johannesburg. The conference brought together over 200 sex workers from 10 African countries. KESWA became the first operational country coalition followed by South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia and Nigeria. KESWA recognises sex work as work and promotes equal protection of human rights, which are the foundational principles of Kenya’s democratic society. KESWA advocates for sex workers rights as human rights through awareness raising, capacity Strengthening, organisational development, and advocacy. Its mission is to end human rights abuses against female, male and transgender sex workers.
KESWA is the umbrella organisation of the Kenyan sex worker-led groups based in Nairobi. The organisations include: Health Options for Young Men on HIV, AIDS and STIs (HOYMAS), Bar Hostess Empowerment and Support Programme (BHESP), Warembo Sasa, Survivors (Busia), Coast Sex Workers Alliance (COSWA), Eldoret Sex Workers Alliance (ESWA), Kisumu Sex Workers Alliance (KISWA), Coast Hostess, Smart Ladies Nakuru, Laikipia Peer Educators, SWOP Ambassadors, EMAC, Sisters of Majengo, and Links to Smile. KESWA’s areas of priority include: capacity building, advocacy, resource mobilisation for member groups, awareness creation and sensitisation, and decriminalisation of sex work.