Municipal
by-laws
Defunct municipal by-laws across the country that refer to sex work differ
according to different regions, and can be very vague, leaving a large amount of
discretion for interpretation. These by-laws are utilized by council officers
and police officials to arrest sex workers.
Sections
258 (m) and (n) of the Mombasa Municipal Council By-laws (2003) state that:
Any person who shall in any street or public place-
(m) Loiter or importune for the purpose of prostitution
(n) Procure or attempt to procure a female or male for the purpose of
prostitution or homosexuality … shall be guilty of an offence