The old man promised to use protection but he used Lemon

Veronica Musyoki was born in Makueni County. With the help of an acquaintance, she began working in a club. There, she was introduced to sex work. At first, she struggled to find customers, while her friends seemed to succeed more easily. One day, she went with a customer to a lodging. After being intimate, he left abruptly, taking his phone and refusing to pay her. On another occasion, a man took her to his home and made her do all the household chores the next morning before giving her any money. Seeking better opportunities, Veronica moved to Pipeline to hustle. Yet even there, customers avoided her, and those who did take her services often refused to pay. To cope with the loneliness and frustration, she began chewing miraa to pass the time. Despite the hardships, she continued her street work and used the little she earned to raise her child. Later, Veronica turned to Facebook, joining different pages to look for customers. One day, she started talking to a man online. He visited her, and after they spent the night together, he paid her 1,000 shillings. She met many different kinds of men. In one case, she spoke to someone who claimed to be young, but when they met in person, he turned out to be an older man. He tried to convince her that applying lemon to himself would prevent HIV, but Veronica saw through his lies. In her street work, she was taught never to appear poor, as this would attract wealthier customers. She even carried car keys, though she did not own a car. The work came with challenges too—one day, her drink was spiked. On another occasion, she met a man who had a lot of money. She took him to Kayole, where they rented a room and carried alcohol. After drinking, the man blacked out. Veronica took his money and left him in the room. Immediately afterward, she went to a pastor and offered her tithe. This is Veronica’s story of her youth—how she hustled in the city using different methods to survive.