The men of Western Kenya, that swath of undulating land spread beneath Cherengani Hills, encompassing the counties of Bungoma, Kakamega, Busia, Vihiga all the way to homes of their Luo cousins nestled around the shores of Lake Victoria, like to party.
With food in the belly, a drink in hand and rhumba or benga in the air, they love to sway gently in their favourite watering holes, faces gleaming.
But what keeps the juices flowing, and what drives them to these pubs like bees to nectar, is the Ugandan barmaid. Soft spoken, courteous and sexy in flaming red skirts, short black dresses, and bewitching curves, they have taken the men hostage. It is official: If you own a pub in these parts, and your waitstaff are not female, or Ugandan, your business is toast.
Patrons love them, and so do publicans. Koech, who runs a bar and a restaurant in Busia town says his business almost collapsed when his rival opened a pub adjacent to his and employed ten curvaceous women from Uganda. Initially, he thought it was all hot air but when his sales hit a low of Sh, consistently for five months, he too sneaked across the border for help in the spirit of East African Cooperation.
With the curvaceous beauties from across the border in place, he says sales shot up within two months. Wanjala, a frequent reveller at one of the big night clubs in Kakamega town, says men are drawn to the Ugandan lasses because respect for men is ingrained in their culture. He adds that Ugandan waitresses also serve you immediately you walk into the pub, after a warm handshake of course, as opposed to some Kenyan barmaids who stare moodily into space until you bang an empty beer bottle on the table, unless you are the kind of man who looks like money.
