I had sex in the bush to take care of my kids

If there is anybody who has been to hell and back and faced death, it is Peninah Karanja. She tells JOHN MUIA how poverty and hopelessness pushed her to prostitution to fend for her family and when everything seemed lost, she found salvation

How was your childhood? As I child I could make prophesies. Even before my mother died in 2015, I had asked her to repent two years earlier. My late mother told me that my father had disowned me even before I was born. I used to wonder why I was the neglected one in a family of 11. I have been through a lot and because of that, I dropped out in Class Seven. I scored 320 marks in my end-term exam.

At the age of 15 years, I decided to help my mother eke out a living for the family. I got a job in Meru in 1989, where I was earning Sh400 a month. I asked my employer to send my salary directly to my mother so that she could cater for the needs of my siblings.

How old were you when you became a prostitute?

 I was 24 (in 1998). At the time, I had moved from Majengo to Mlolongo, where we started a village called Kicheko with some friends.

Why did you become a prostitute?

Poverty pushed me to prostitution. My husband was less concerned about our children. At the time, there were no mobile phones, so it was hard to call someone for help. I therefore opted for prostitution for the sake of my children,

Who introduced you to the trade?

It was my own decision. I was a Christian before that and learnt a lot from my mother who was God-fearing. But I backslided.

Where did you take your clients?

There were no rooms for rent in our days and Mlolongo was one big bush. We did it on the ground by the roadside. I really thank God snakes did not bite my back. Mlolongo town grew and we moved our business to Madharau Street. I was in that trade for so long, I cannot tell how many people I have had sex with.

How much were you paid for your services?

Back in the day, we charged Sh50 for sex and I could make as much Sh300 in a day, which was a lot of money. But on bad days, I even went home empty-handed.

What is the worst thing that happened to you?

I realised I was infected with HIV/Aids between 2004 and 2006. Things got tough.  I used to got to Kenyatta National Hospital for medication, which was very expensive. I didn’t have enough money and the doctor told me, “Enda ukakufie Mbagathi.” But I was determined to live and told the female doctor that, “Siendi kukufa, lakini naenda kuokoa maisha yangu!” After so much soul-searching it became obvious that only God gave life, not the doctors.

At what point did you realise enough was enough? In 2007, my husband got diabetes. I decided to give my life to Christ and believed that with or without work, my children will survive. In 2010, I joined a Community-Based Organisation in Mlolongo which has really helped with medication.

When did you get saved?

That was in 2007 when I was about to give birth to my fourth born. During that period, I saw death and decided to get saved.

What did your family think of your job back then?

My husband did not know what I was doing because he would disappear for two weeks and only come back when broke. My children were too young and didn’t know how I earned my living.

Where are your children now?

My four kids are in school. My first-born daughter is in Form Three, the second-born in Form Two and the third-born in Class Seven. The last-born is in a boarding school. I call him Emmanuel.