{"id":503,"date":"2019-07-02T15:21:37","date_gmt":"2019-07-02T15:21:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/breaking-the-silence.online\/index.php\/2019\/07\/02\/lgbt-africans-optimistic-as-kenya-awaits-ruling-on-decriminalizing-gay-sex-2\/"},"modified":"2024-09-14T06:25:04","modified_gmt":"2024-09-14T06:25:04","slug":"lgbt-africans-optimistic-as-kenya-awaits-ruling-on-decriminalizing-gay-sex-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/amaliafoka.com\/breaking-the-silence\/index.php\/2019\/07\/02\/lgbt-africans-optimistic-as-kenya-awaits-ruling-on-decriminalizing-gay-sex-2\/","title":{"rendered":"In Kenya, high-risk early pregnancy has long been a societal challenge."},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Kenyan media exploded with a disturbing story last month: \u00abClose to 4,000 school<\/strong> girls impregnated in Kenya<\/a> during COVID-19 lockdown\u00bb, read one headline.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The\u00a0<\/span>articles all cited data from a recently released Kenya<\/a> government<\/strong> health information survey, and most attributed the high pregnancy numbers to the COVID-19 lockdown.<\/p>\n

Since the pandemic hit Kenya<\/a> in mid-March, healthcare providers have been warning about its potential to increase rates of teenage pregnancies.<\/p>\n

In Kenya<\/a>, high-risk early pregnancy has long been a societal challenge.<\/p>\n

Underpinning any COVID-19-related rise in teen pregnancies are other significant challenges, including insufficient funding for reproductive health services and a lack of comprehensive sex education<\/strong> in schools \u2013 which have contributed to Kenya<\/a>\u2019s alarming numbers.<\/p>\n

Last September, Ashley Okoth*, a high school<\/strong> student living in a remote village in western Kenya<\/a>, boarded a public bus to travel to the nearest city to visit her aunt.<\/p>\n

Elizabeth Mariara is a nurse running a reproductive health clinic in rural Kenya<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Siddharth Chatterjee, the UN resident coordinator in Kenya<\/a>, warned that individual, anecdotal cases should not be used to extrapolate a national pattern.<\/p>\n

The US government<\/strong> has historically been a major contributor to Kenya<\/a>\u2019s healthcare budget.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

But since President Donald Trump<\/a> reinstated and expanded the policy that prohibits funding to NGOs that offer counseling, referrals, or services related to abortion \u2014 often referred to as the Mexico City<\/a> policy or the global gag rule<\/strong> \u2014 Kenyan reproductive health and family planning organisations have struggled with reduced financing.<\/p>\n

Some have had to close their doors, according to the NGO Family Health Options Kenya<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Reproductive Health Network Kenya<\/a> , a group of pro-choice health providers and advocacy organisations, purchases contraceptives and other healthcare items and distributes them to smaller providers across the country<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In 2013, the Kenyan government<\/strong> committed to scaling up sex education<\/strong>, beginning courses in primary schools.<\/p>\n

\u00abParents told us, \u2018Those things are taught in school<\/strong>. We do not talk to our children about sex. That is a taboo<\/strong><\/span><\/strong>. So we expect that the teachers should tell our children about sex and about how to protect themselves,\u2019\u00bb said Mercy Chege, director of programmes at Plan International, an NGO advocating for children\u2019s rights and girls\u2019 equality.<\/p>\n

Kenya<\/a>\u2019s parliament is currently debating legislation mandating age-appropriate sex education<\/strong> in schools.<\/p>\n

But religious leaders and cultural conservatives have launched an aggressive campaign against the bill, arguing that such a curriculum runs counter to Kenyan cultural values.<\/p>\n

A 2017 Kenyan study into maternal deaths revealed that nine percent of women who died in the hospital were teenagers.<\/p>\n

Of pregnant teenagers who survive childbirth, nearly 98 percent drop out of school<\/strong>, research conducted in Kenya<\/a> last year by Plan International shows.<\/p>\n

And, she warns, the legacy of high teenage pregnancy rates will almost certainly outlast the coronavirus in Kenya<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The taskforce handed the report to the government<\/strong> on July 7 after working ably for eight months on this topical matter in Kenya<\/a> today.<\/p>\n

Ill health and psychosocial disability are the two major sources of mental health problems in Kenya<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Yet, it is paradoxical that Kenyans still understand mental health and mental illness issues from spiritual and cultural perspectives.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Such expressions of odd behaviour, or spiritual possession, are explained in terms of taboos<\/span><\/strong>, curses and other paranormal phenomena.<\/p>\n

Popular media, such as television or radio or even film, are major avenues for perpetuation of this social stigma against mental health across Kenya<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Chinua Achebe<\/a>\u2019s Arrow of God, Nawal El Saadawi\u2019s The Innocent of the Devil and Bessie Head<\/a>\u2019s A Question of Power offer classical literary treatments of the taboo<\/strong><\/span><\/strong> subject.<\/p>\n

Standing on such steps of conscience with this voice from the lost generation of apartheid South Africa<\/a>, Kenyans ought to open up public discourse on mental matters around us today.<\/p>\n

To couch the topic on traditional perspectives of taboo<\/strong><\/span><\/strong> and stigma is to aggravate an ongoing disaster.<\/p>\n

Kenyans battling with aspects of mental illness should not be forgotten, even as the Covid-19 pandemic soars across the country<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

But if Kenya<\/a> overturns a ban on gay sex<\/strong> this Friday, he\u2019s going clubbing to celebrate \u2014 with the full protection of the law<\/strong>.
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Twenty-eight-year-old Kasanda is one of thousands of gay Kenyans hoping judges will strike down a colonial-era law<\/strong> punishing consensual same-sex<\/strong> relationships<\/strong> by 14 years<\/strong> in jail.<\/p>\n

Same-sex relationships<\/strong> are illegal in more than 70 countries, almost half of them in Africa<\/a>, where homosexuality<\/strong> is broadly taboo<\/strong><\/span><\/strong> and persecution is rife.<\/p>\n

Kenya<\/a> arrested 534 people<\/strong> for same-sex<\/strong> relationships<\/strong> between 2013 and 2017, the government<\/strong> said.<\/p>\n

Kenya<\/a>\u2019s high court<\/strong> began hearings on the law<\/strong> last year.<\/p>\n

Campaigners say the colonial-era law<\/strong> violates Kenya<\/a>\u2019s progressive 2010 constitution, which guarantees equality, dignity and privacy for all citizens.<\/p>\n

Decriminalization won\u2019t stop prejudice, but it should end arrests and blackmail, and help rein in assaults and rapes if gay Kenyans no longer fear police, said the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, one of the petitioners against the law<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The commission has has recorded more than 1,500 such attacks against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Kenyans since 2014.<\/p>\n

\u00abA gay lifestyle is a threat to our culture and the common good,\u00bb said Charles Kanjama, a lawyer for the Kenya<\/a> Christian Professionals Forum.<\/p>\n

In recent years<\/strong>, Kenya<\/a>\u2019s small openly gay community<\/strong> has grown, including a prominent writer, a journalist, and several activists, although gay public events are rare.<\/p>\n

Last year a court<\/strong> temporarily lifted a ban to allow a locally-made film called \u00abRafiki\u00bb, which portrayed a lesbian relationship in Kenya<\/a>, to compete at the Oscars.<\/p>\n

President Uhuru Kenyatta<\/a> has said \u00abgay rights is really a non-issue\u00bb, while deputy president William Ruto<\/a> said Kenya<\/a> had \u00abno room\u00bb for gays.<\/p>\n

Many Kenyans, like retired military officer Stanley Muigai Kiama, say they will reject gay people<\/strong> regardless of any court<\/strong> ruling.<\/p>\n

Forgotten Women: Ending FGM in Kenya<\/a> Nice Nailantei Leng\u2019ete Nice\u2019s community<\/strong> organised a homecoming ceremony for her when she returned from the TIME 100 gala in April 2018 Amref Health Africa<\/a> Forgotten Women: Ending FGM in Kenya<\/a> Nice welcomes Dr. David Nkedienye Nice, the governor of Kajiado County<\/a> at the time, to the official part of an Alternative Rite of Passage ceremony in Rombo, Kenya<\/a>.<\/p>\n

His presence was a sign of acknowledgment and encouragement Anja Ligtenberg Forgotten Women: Ending FGM in Kenya<\/a> Alternative Rite of Passage ceremony Nice helps young girls prepare for their Alternative Rite of Passage ceremony Anja Ligtenberg Forgotten Women: Ending FGM in Kenya<\/a> Nice celebrates with Morans Nice celebrates with Morans from a Maasai community<\/strong> in Kenya<\/a> A portrait of human rights activist Nice Nailantei Leng\u2019ete Steve Murigi<\/p>\n

The fact that her work has been considered revolutionary \u2013 a selection of interviews and photographs from Womanhood have already been published in several media outlets to great praise \u2013 she says, points to a wider problem with the way female sexuality is framed as taboo<\/strong><\/span><\/strong> in society.<\/p>\n

\u00abI\u2019m using a physical taboo<\/strong><\/span><\/strong> to open up a conversation about social and emotional taboos<\/span><\/strong>\u00bb.<\/p>\n

The five biggest taboos<\/span><\/strong> surrounding female sexuality<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Dodsworth’s project comes at a time when the consequences of such taboos<\/span><\/strong> seem more relevant than ever.<\/p>\n

NAIROBI – There is a quiet air of excitement at the offices of the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission , as the countdown draws closer to Friday when a much-awaited ruling by Kenya<\/a>\u2019s High Court could make history.<\/p>\n

The charity has fought hundreds of cases of abuse against sexual minorities<\/strong> in Kenya<\/a>\u2019s courts, but the verdict on whether to scrap British colonial-era laws criminalizing gay sex<\/strong> is undoubtedly their most eagerly anticipated case.<\/p>\n

\u00abA positive ruling will mean sexual minorities<\/strong> in Kenya<\/a> will have the freedom to exist. It will be a step toward their inclusion in society. We feel we have a very solid case\u00bb.<\/p>\n

Homosexuality is taboo<\/strong><\/span><\/strong> in the East African nation and persecution of sexual minorities<\/strong> is rife.<\/p>\n

Under sections of Kenya<\/a>\u2019s penal code, gay sex<\/strong> – or \u00abcarnal knowledge against the order of nature\u00bb – is punishable by up to 14 years<\/strong> in jail.<\/p>\n

A positive judgment would not only give rights and dignity to sexual minorities<\/strong> in Kenya<\/a>, say campaigners<\/strong>, but will inject impetus into battles being waged by persecuted LGBT+ people<\/strong> Africa<\/a> wide.<\/p>\n

\u00abPeople across the continent<\/strong> are watching the Kenyan case very closely,\u00bb said Anthony Oluoch from Pan Africa<\/a> ILGA, a global charity advocating for the rights of sexual minorities<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u00abThere are laws in many African countries that criminalize same-sex<\/strong> relationships<\/strong>, so if we get a positive ruling in Kenya<\/a> it will give hope to the continent<\/strong>\u00bb.<\/p>\n

The law<\/strong> against gay sex<\/strong> in Kenya<\/a> – sections 162 and 165 – was introduced during British rule<\/strong> more than 120 years<\/strong> ago.<\/p>\n

In 2010, Kenya<\/a> adopted its new constitution, which provides for equality, human dignity and freedom from discrimination.<\/p>\n

The Kenyan government<\/strong>, backed by powerful Christian groups, however is opposed to scrapping the ban on gay sex<\/strong>, have argued during court<\/strong> hearings last year that it will lead to same-sex<\/strong> marriage.<\/p>\n

Since the date of the ruling was announced in October, LGBT+ activists across the world<\/strong> have been counting down the days on social media with hash tags such as #WeAreAllKenyans, #LoveIsHuman and #Repeal162.<\/p>\n

\u00abThis judgment has real potential to change the lived experience of hundreds of thousands of people<\/strong> in Kenya<\/a>,\u00bb said Tea Braun, director of the UK-based campaign group, the Human Dignity Trust.
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

\u00abA positive verdict will declare that LGBT+ people<\/strong> are not criminals. It will be a reckoning for society where Kenya<\/a> will show the world<\/strong> that it upholds the principals of freedom, liberty and justice\u00bb.<\/p>\n

Campaigners say their optimism is justified – pointing to recent progressive rulings by courts as well as governments across the world<\/strong> supporting the rights of LGBT+ people<\/strong> – which they believe Kenya<\/a>\u2019s judges will consider.<\/p>\n

The fact these moves came from countries in the developing world<\/strong> – which Kenyans can easily identify with – rather than Western nations which are often blamed for \u00abimporting homosexuality<\/strong>\u00bb, should lie in their favor, say petitioners.<\/p>\n

There has even been progress at home, they add, citing a ruling by Kenya<\/a>\u2019s Court of Appeal in March which found it illegal to force people<\/strong> suspected of being homosexual to undergo anal examinations.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Same-sex relationships<\/strong> are considered taboo<\/strong><\/span><\/strong> and are a crime across most of the continent<\/strong>, with punishments ranging from imprisonment to death.<\/p>\n

\u00abKenya<\/a> is an important and influential country<\/strong> in Africa<\/a> and there has been a lot of conversation around the continent<\/strong> about the court<\/strong> case,\u00bb said Bisi Alimi, a Nigerian gay rights activist who was forced to flee persecution and seek asylum in Britain.<\/p>\n

I spent the past three months of my travels in Africa<\/a>, specifically in Egypt<\/a>, Morocco, Nigeria<\/a>, Kenya<\/a>, and Tanzania<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The last unmentionable taboo<\/strong><\/span><\/strong>, MENSTRUATION! *gasp*.<\/p>\n

Menstrual taboos<\/span><\/strong> are so deeply rooted in Rwandan culture; we have developed harmful, even destructive ideas and beliefs about menstruation.<\/p>\n

Taboos do not just affect how societies relate to menstruation, menstruation stigma is one of many systemic factors that perpetuate gender inequality, it is one of the large ones we frequently ignore.<\/p>\n

In 2004 Kenya<\/a> repealed its value added tax on pads and tampons to lower the price consumers pay.<\/p>\n

And since 2011, the Kenyan government<\/strong> has been budgeting about $3 million per year to distribute free sanitary pads in schools in low-income communities.<\/p>\n

If Kenya<\/a> can do it, why can\u2019t we?<\/p>\n

After a delayed yet highly-anticipated ruling in the courts, the Kenyan High Court has ruled against decriminalising same-sex<\/strong> relations, to the dismay of gay rights campaigners<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The law<\/strong> banning same-sex<\/strong> relations has been on the books since the British colonialised Kenya<\/a> in the late 1800s.<\/p>\n

The large grassroots effort in Kenya<\/a> by the vocal LGBTQ community<\/strong> sees the ruling as a setback, not only for Kenya<\/a>, but for the continent<\/strong> as a whole.<\/p>\n

Homosexual relationships<\/strong> are seen as taboo<\/strong><\/span><\/strong> in Kenya<\/a> and in many countries throughout Africa<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In Kenya<\/a>, a person convicted of same-sex<\/strong> relations could be sent to prison for up to 14 years<\/strong>, like in Nigeria<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u00abMy message to the people<\/strong> of Kenya<\/a> is to fight on for greater equality for all, and never give up,\u00bb said Bachelet.<\/p>\n

YAOUNDE – From delivering a TED talk in a tutu to coming out in a country<\/strong> where homosexuality<\/strong> is deeply taboo<\/strong><\/span><\/strong>, Binyavanga Wainaina<\/a> was a champion of the LGBT+ cause in Africa<\/a>, campaigners<\/strong> said as they paid tribute to the Kenyan writer, who died this week aged 48.<\/p>\n

\u00abI can give them as an example and say, here\u2019s one person, who is African, Kenyan, East African who is gay and accomplished, and recognized all over the world<\/strong> and has made it within his craft \u2013 and you can also make it like him\u00bb.<\/p>\n

Wainaina came out as gay in 2014 – a major step in Kenya<\/a>, where homosexuality<\/strong> remains taboo<\/strong><\/span><\/strong> in many circles and gay sex<\/strong> is illegal.<\/p>\n

Kenya<\/a>\u2019s Supreme Court is due to rule<\/strong> later on Friday on a challenge to that law<\/strong>, which campaigners<\/strong> say violates the country<\/strong>\u2019s progressive 2010 constitution guaranteeing equality, dignity and privacy for all citizens.<\/p>\n

The text of this article was generated by the Breaking The Silence<\/a> system that collected 9<\/strong> news articles posted on the web from January 2019 to September 2020 and clustered for the taboo subjects related to Kenya<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Kenyan media exploded with a disturbing story last month: \u00abClose to 4,000 school girls impregnated in Kenya during COVID-19 lockdown\u00bb, read one headline. The\u00a0articles all cited data from a recently released Kenya government health information survey, and most attributed the high pregnancy numbers to the COVID-19 lockdown. Since the pandemic hit Kenya in mid-March, healthcare […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":418,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[44,46,149,580,1261],"tags":[345,1056,377,1058,456,134,75,791,446,1055,793,156,448,347,447,449,150,445,102,132,1053,157,1054,1057,59,56,598,501],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/amaliafoka.com\/breaking-the-silence\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/503"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/amaliafoka.com\/breaking-the-silence\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/amaliafoka.com\/breaking-the-silence\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amaliafoka.com\/breaking-the-silence\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amaliafoka.com\/breaking-the-silence\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=503"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/amaliafoka.com\/breaking-the-silence\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/503\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1387,"href":"https:\/\/amaliafoka.com\/breaking-the-silence\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/503\/revisions\/1387"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amaliafoka.com\/breaking-the-silence\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/418"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/amaliafoka.com\/breaking-the-silence\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=503"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amaliafoka.com\/breaking-the-silence\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=503"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amaliafoka.com\/breaking-the-silence\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=503"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}