Women volunteering as community paralegals for sex workers in Kenya are helping some of the country’s most vulnerable people access justice and healthcare, but new research suggests they are paying a significant personal price. The study found that many experience relentless emotional, financial and physical pressures while balancing demanding unpaid work with earning a living and caring for their families. The findings were published in the journal City.
Researchers examined the everyday experiences of sex worker community paralegals in Nairobi, where volunteers support people who have experienced violence, discrimination and legal problems. Their work forms part of Kenya’s wider HIV response by helping people navigate police stations, hospitals and legal services while also encouraging access to healthcare.
The research, led by the University of Bristol’s Eglė Česnulytė, argues that these women fill important gaps left by overstretched public services. By mediating disputes, helping victims report crimes and guiding people through complex systems, they reduce pressure on both the justice and healthcare sectors.
However, the study found that the role itself creates intense strain. Community paralegals often carry heavy caseloads while receiving only modest financial support intended to cover work related expenses rather than provide a wage. Many continue working in sex work to support themselves and their families while carrying out volunteer responsibilities.
To better understand these experiences, the researcher carried out fieldwork in 2022 and 2023 with support from the Bar Hostesses Empowerment and Support Programme in Nairobi. The project included focus groups, interviews and a photography exercise in which participants documented the pressures they faced during their daily lives using mobile phones.
The findings revealed that much of their work requires constant travel across the city to hospitals, police stations and clients’ homes. These journeys can expose women to violence, intimidation and harassment, while long waits for official procedures often clash with childcare responsibilities and opportunities to earn an income.
Many participants described feeling that there was never enough time to meet competing demands. Helping clients through emergencies frequently took priority over personal needs, family responsibilities and rest, leaving many physically exhausted and emotionally drained.
The emotional impact was equally severe. Community paralegals regularly dealt with cases involving assault, rape and murder, while also supporting traumatised clients through legal and medical processes. Repeated exposure to violence left many struggling with anxiety, fear and emotional exhaustion, yet formal mental health support remained limited.
The study also highlights the challenges of working within systems where stigma surrounding sex work remains widespread. Participants described navigating difficult relationships with police officers and other authorities while trying to secure justice for clients. In some cases, they also faced threats, abuse or violence themselves while carrying out their duties.
Rather than focusing solely on financial hardship, the research argues that the pressures stem from a combination of limited resources, emotional demands, unsafe working conditions and the difficulty of balancing multiple caring roles. The author suggests that these pressures are built into the current design of community paralegal programmes rather than being isolated problems faced by individual volunteers.
The researcher concludes that recognising the true value of community paralegals will require more than small financial allowances. Better mental health support, stronger practical protections and greater recognition of the care work they perform could help reduce burnout while strengthening services that many vulnerable communities rely upon.