By MUURIA LOYD
Third Year Journalism Student, Chuka University
In the dusty streets of Manyatta Estate, 17-year-old Aisha (not her real name) sits quietly on a wooden stool outside their single-room house. Her eyes follow the children passing by with schoolbags—something she once had but no longer does. After her mother lost her job as a househelp, survival became a daily struggle. “I wanted to finish school,” she says softly. “But when there’s no food, no sanitary pads, no bus fare… you start thinking of other ways.”
For many girls like Aisha, poverty creates a painful choice: remain hungry and hopeless, or accept help from older men—popularly known as Wababas—who promise money, meals, and comfort. For some, it begins with a simple offer: ‘Let me take care of you.’ But the cost is far heavier than many imagine.
ECONOMIC HARDSHIP: THE SILENT ROOT
Kenya’s rising cost of living has hit low-income households hardest. In many informal settlements, families struggle to afford essentials like food, school fees, and healthcare. Girls, often the most vulnerable, face the brunt of these pressures.
“When a girl asks for pads and you tell her to wait until next month, she feels abandoned,” says Mama Kevin, a local shopkeeper who has watched the pattern repeat itself. “These men know the girls’ struggles—and they take advantage.”
For some girls, the financial support seems like a lifeline: KSh 500 for lunch, KSh 1,000 for hair and KSh 3,000 for rent. But behind the money lies manipulation, emotional dependency, and sometimes violence.
THE HIDDEN DANGERS BEHIND THE LIFESTYLE
While the flashy lifestyle portrayed on social media promises glamour, the reality is often dark. Many girls end up trapped in cycles of exploitation, exposed to:
- Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- Unwanted pregnancies
- Gender-based violence
- School dropout
- Emotional trauma and manipulation
“I thought he loved me,” recalls Sophie, now 20. “But whenever I refused to meet him, he threatened to stop sending money. It was never love—just control.”
Some girls report that once they become pregnant or fall ill, the Wababas disappear, leaving them to face the consequences alone.
SOCIAL MEDIA PRESSURE
In the digital age, many teens feel pressured to match online lifestyles—designer clothes, smartphones, outings, and expensive hairstyles. When families can not provide these, the temptation to seek “sponsors” becomes stronger.
“Young girls want what influencers have,” says Joyce Mwende, a youth counselor. “But they don’t see the risks, the dangers, or the long-term damage.”
THE ROAD TO HEALING
Local NGOs, churches, and women’s groups are stepping in to support vulnerable girls through skill programs, mentorship, and counseling.
Through these efforts, some young women regain hope. “I joined a tailoring course,” says Aisha, her voice lifting with pride. “Now I know I can make money without depending on any man.”
A CALL FOR CHANGE
The story of girls turning to Wababas is not about immorality. It is about survival. It is a reflection of poverty, inequality, and lack of support systems. Until communities address these root causes, more girls will continue to walk this dangerous path.
For Aisha and many other peers, hope lies in education, empowerment, and a society that chooses to protect, not prey on, its daughters.
MWINGI TIMES for timely and authoritative news.
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