1. PRESENTATION BY
KASH
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A
PROGRAMME TARGETTING
COMMERCIAL SEX
WORKERS IN KISUMU

2. PRESENTER
My name is Christine Injena
and I am a member of
Kisumu AIDS Self Help
group, which in short is
referred to as KASH.

3. ORGANIZATION’S
BACKGROUND
The organization I represent here is
known as Kisumu AIDS Self Help
Group or KASH. It is a community
Based Organization, started three
years ago by a few friends who have
since then been joined by many of us.
Currently we have over 120 members.
KASH, has joined other HIV/AIDS
organizations in Kenya to address the
needs and challenges of CSWs in
Kisumu.

4. AIM OF KASH
Our aim is to address the needs and challenges of the Commercial
Sex Workers in the face of HIV /AIDS, in Kisumu
RATIONALE OF THE PROGRAMME
This part of the country has since HIV/AIDS was first discovered
in Kenya in 1984, has had the highest cases of HIV/AIDS.
According to a baseline survey in five hot spots in Kisumu namely:
-Kimwa
-Octopus
-Fanana
-Social hall
-Tot Restaurant
The findings were as follows:
-20% of the 60 interviewed do not use condoms
-17% of them are abused physically
-65% had knowledge on HIV & AIDS, STI’ s and Condoms
-72% had people depending on them
-80% do not go for treatment
-77% do not know their status
Our main objective therefore is to empower them with relevant
knowledge on the above topics affecting them.

5. OUR TARGET GROUP
We mainly target Commercial Sex
Workers aged between 12 and 35 years
based in all bars in Kisumu.

6. OUR ACCOMPLISHMENT /
ACHIEVEMENT
1. KASH has been able to reach over
200 commercial sex workers with
relevant information and
education on STI and HIV/AIDS
through numerous awareness
workshops in Kisumu.
2.Conduct activities that aim to make
them conscious of the risk of the
risks associated with unprotected
sex through ;
Health Talks
Video Shows
Group discussions

7. CHALLENGES FACED BY
KASH
Stigma
Disclosure / Mistrust
Violation of CSW rights
Migration of CSW’ s
Police harassment
Skiving STI treatment
Getting them to visit medical centres
when ill
Avoiding use of condoms
Getting them to visit VCT centres

8. WAYFORWARD
1.Strengthen CSW groups to enable them to unite so that they are able
to work out common issues as a united group.
2.Continueenpowering them with relevant knowledge on :
HIV and AIDS
STI’ s
VCT
Condoms
3.Increased number of CSW’ s infected with STI’ s seeking medical
attention.
4.Stretch our wings to cover western Kenya region as a whole.
5.Encourage donors and the government to support or fund some of
the income generating projects they have.

9. This ladies and gentlemen, is an
insight on the challenges that Kisumu
AIDS Self Help Group (KASH) faced
when we started and how we are going
about to meet our objectives.
Thank you for your patience and
attention towards my presentation.
Our address is:
Kisumu AIDS Self Help Group,
P.O. Box 3505 – 40100,
Kisumu. Tel: 0721-445452
Email: kash_group@yahoo.com
Location: University Plaza (Formerly
KNA building), 4th Floor.