I became a poll Dancer to feed my Kids | But I ended up poor

Peris Nduta Njoki was born and raised in the ghetto. Life was difficult from the very beginning. Her mother struggled with alcoholism, and as a result, Peris had to drop out of school—there simply wasn’t anyone to support the family. In search of belonging and escape, she joined a group of girls who frequently went out to clubs. It was during this time that she met a man and entered into a relationship with him. He was a gangster. When Peris became pregnant, he took responsibility for the child. Despite this, he continued his criminal lifestyle—constantly on the run from the police and always armed. He even taught Peris how to carry his gun hidden inside a cooler box, knowing that the police wouldn’t suspect her. She would help him transport the weapon, and once they reached their destination, he would give her money for fare to return home. Peris gave birth to their child, but tragedy struck when the baby was just one year old—the father passed away. At the funeral, her in-laws blamed her for his death and rejected both her and the child. Heartbroken, Peris gathered her belongings and returned to her mother’s home, where life remained harsh and unforgiving. Eventually, she met another man who promised to take care of her and her child. Hoping for a better future, she gave him a chance—unaware that he was a thief. He lied to her, claiming he worked as a matatu conductor. Later, she became pregnant with her second child. One day, he confessed the truth: he was a criminal. Peris was devastated. Still, she carried the pregnancy to term and gave birth to a baby girl. But when the baby was just six months old, tragedy struck again—he was shot and killed during a robbery in town. After his burial, Peris found herself alone once more. Overwhelmed by grief and hardship, she began drinking to cope with the pain. One day, a friend suggested she join her in selling body to provide for her children. Desperate and with no other options, Peris agreed. Her friend gave her costumes and introduced her to pole dancing. At first, Peris was too shy and lacked the courage to perform. To numb her fear and shame, she began using drugs, which helped her entertain customers without inhibition. Today, Peris shares her story—her life as a stripper, the challenges she faced, and the painful choices she made in exchange for money. It is a story of survival, of a woman navigating a world that offered her few choices, and of the strength it takes to keep going when everything seems lost.