Pauline Kendi’s life turned upside down in 2019 when she lost her father, and she was forced to seek refuge with her aunt, who was her only living relative. Little did she know that this supposed safe haven would become a nightmare of exploitation and abuse.
Just three weeks after moving in with her aunt, Kendi was pimped out to male clients who would pay for sex with her. Her aunt would take the money and provide Kendi with food and shelter in return. The first client handed her aunt an envelope, and Kendi was taken to a hotel room, where she was forced to have sex with him.
She was devastated and pleaded with her aunt, but was given lemons to use while taking bath, as another client was on his way. That became a regular occurrence with Kendi being forced to sleep with multiple men, including one who got her pregnant. Her aunt suggested she get rid of the pregnancy, but she refused.
When she fell ill her aunt gave her medicine which made her condition worse. A kind client eventually rushed her to the hospital, where she was informed that she was five months pregnant and the medicine had not affected her unborn child. She gave birth to a son at her aunt’s doorstep, and despite her efforts to escape, she was forced back into prostitution to support herself and her child.
She never received any income from her “work,” as her aunt took everything. When her child was two months old, Kendi ran away, but with no source of income, she was forced to return to her aunt’s house. Three years later, Kendi had a daughter as a result of prostitution. The men eventually lost interest in her, and her aunt gave her Ksh.20,000 to start a new life.
Kendi used the money to start a samosa business, but it has been a struggle. Tragedy struck again when the woman Kendi trusted with her son sold him, taking her two months to get him back. The police eventually helped her track down her son, who had been sold to a woman in Karen.
She is now appealing for help, as the years of forced sex have left her with physical and emotional damage. She struggles with incontinence and relies on painkillers to manage her back pain. Her greatest desire is to educate her children and get her health back on track.
Kendi’s story is a heart-wrenching testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Despite the unimaginable trauma she has faced, she remains determined to rebuild her life and create a better future for herself and her children.