Category: Kenya

LGBT Refugee Peaceful Protest Turns Violent at UNHCR Compound in Kenya

December 11, 2018

Kenya is a hostile host to LGBTI refugees:– Thirty LGBTI Refugees in Kakuma Camp, Kenya, mostly Ugandans participating in an approved peaceful demonstration, tried to deliver a document to UNHCR, but after being refused entry into the compound were viciously attacked by police.  I have reached out to UNHCR for comment and will update accordingly. The conditions … More LGBT Refugee Peaceful Protest Turns Violent at UNHCR Compound in Kenya

Africa Brief – Tanzanian Gay Hunt, Cameroon Turmoil, Expat Somalis Win U.S. Elections and More…..

November 11, 2018

Cameroon’s Anglophone crisis has turned into a full-scale propaganda war. The return of 78 kidnapped schoolchildren this week has led to an exchange of allegations between Cameroon’s government and Anglophone militant separatists claiming the other side was responsible, reports Amindeh Blaise Atabong from Yaoundé. Meanwhile, TV journalist Mimi Mefo Takombo has been detained indefinitely by … More Africa Brief – Tanzanian Gay Hunt, Cameroon Turmoil, Expat Somalis Win U.S. Elections and More…..

LGBT Kenyans Support the Case to Overturn Ban on Film Rafiki

September 15, 2018

Kenyan filmmaker Wanuri Kahiu filed a petition at the High Court of Kenya this week, seeking to have the ban on her film, ​Rafiki​, ​overturned. ​Rafiki is the first Kenyan film to be invited to show at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in its 70+ year history yet remains banned for distribution, broadcast and exhibition … More LGBT Kenyans Support the Case to Overturn Ban on Film Rafiki

American Sharon Slater Trying to Stop Sex Education in Africa

May 29, 2018

American Family Watch International (FWI)  Misuses its UN Status to Preach Abstinence Trying to Stop Sex Education under the Guise of Sexualization of Children. United States rightwing forces, helmed by Family Watch International and its President Sharon Slater, are exerting their colonialist muscle to prevent and inhibit sex education to Africa’s youth. The ignorant propagandist … More American Sharon Slater Trying to Stop Sex Education in Africa

Swahili makes history as first African language recognized by Twitter

May 9, 2018

Twitter has officially recognized Swahili as a language. Well that does not mean that Twitter has yet added Swahili to language settings. Though the social media platform now recognizes Swahili words and offers translation of the widely spoken and written East African language. Since last week, Twitter started detecting the language in tweets and subsequently … More Swahili makes history as first African language recognized by Twitter

Republican Senator John Kennedy Assails Facebook with Offensive Racist Swahili Comment

April 15, 2018

“This disgustingly ill-placed comment has no place in our American Congress and John Kennedy should be censured for it!” Melanie Nathan, as ED of African Human Rights Coalition. Mark Zuckerberg, the founder and chief executive of Facebook, faced a tough crowd on the House side of Capitol Hill in his two days of congressional testimony. … More Republican Senator John Kennedy Assails Facebook with Offensive Racist Swahili Comment

Kenya Appeal Court Rules to End Forced Anal Exams of Men Suspected of Being Gay

March 22, 2018

In a significant win for human rights in Kenya, the Court of Appeals has ruled that the use of forced anal examinations by the state is unlawful. On Thursday 22n d March 2018, a three judge bench handed down a ruling in a case appealing the state’s cruel and degrading treatment of two Kenyan men … More Kenya Appeal Court Rules to End Forced Anal Exams of Men Suspected of Being Gay

Kenyan Court to Hear Case That Challenges Anti-LGBTI Penal Codes

February 20, 2018

This week, the Kenyan Court will be hearing a matter, at Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi, to challenge the Colonial Penal Codes that in essence serve to criminalize homosexuality and target the LGBTI community. The case has been brought by the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (NGLHRC). The case seeks to enforce the … More Kenyan Court to Hear Case That Challenges Anti-LGBTI Penal Codes

Huck Reflection on Vulnerable LGBT Refugees in Kenya

November 13, 2017

“Kenya has become a ‘safe haven’ for those fleeing war and famine in neighbouring states. But in secret hideaways and temporary homes, LGBT refugees are being forced – once again – to hide their true selves instead of walking out into the world with pride …” Article by Jacob Kushner – Huck Magazine DONATE TO … More Huck Reflection on Vulnerable LGBT Refugees in Kenya

Is Trump Purposely Defying Travel and Refugee Court Orders

June 1, 2017

By Melanie Nathan, Executive Director African Human Rights Coalition. Or Mere Incompetence of the Trump Administration In my capacity as the Executive Director of the African Human Rights Coalition, I advocate on behalf of LGBTI refugees in Africa. Since Donald Trump took office the program has been anything BUT smooth sailing!  When Trump took office … More Is Trump Purposely Defying Travel and Refugee Court Orders

Pictures of Police Using Force on LGBTI Refugees in Kenya outside UNHCR gates

May 13, 2017

This is an update reflecting some new pictures:  We wrote an article this week following the story of 18 LGBTI refugees detained and beaten by Kenyan police while outside UNHCR gates: In general when a refugee escapes war or persecution by entering a host country, they can be assured of support and protection, as by … More Pictures of Police Using Force on LGBTI Refugees in Kenya outside UNHCR gates

Kenyan Court Compels Trans Name Changes

February 15, 2017

The Kenyan Court has handed down a compulsion order, requiring the Principal Registrar of Persons to change the names in the identification documents for five transgender individuals in Kenya. The Principal Registrar of Persons has 21 days to effect the name changes in the national identification cards. A lawyer representing the trans clients told Justice George Odunga … More Kenyan Court Compels Trans Name Changes

Kenyan Court Allows Forced Anal Exams to Catch Homosexuals

June 16, 2016

A Kenyan court on Thursday upheld the use of anal examinations to ‘determine a suspect’s sexual orientation’, dismissing the argument that the procedure amounts to torture and degrading treatment. Judge Mathew Emukule, of the Mombasa High Court, denied there was any right violated under the Kenyan constitution and international law and dismissed the case where … More Kenyan Court Allows Forced Anal Exams to Catch Homosexuals

LGBT Refugees Panic as Kenyan Government Announces Closure of Refugee Camps

May 10, 2016

The Government of Kenya has announced that it intends to close all refugee camps in the country, and while UNHCR implores Kenya to reverse this decision, we await information as to how they plan to deal with what could be a severe crisis.  LGBT refugees, after seeing the headlines, are now extremely stressed and uncertain … More LGBT Refugees Panic as Kenyan Government Announces Closure of Refugee Camps

SA Film & Publications Board refuses to condemn Kenyan homophobia

March 30, 2016

Our friends at Mambaonline have followed up on an earlier report and now note a disturbing turn as the South African Film & Publications Board refuses to condemn Kenyan homophobia. South Africa’s Film and Publications Board (FPB) told Mambaonline that it will not condemn its Kenyan counterpart’s persecution of LGBT people. Earlier this month, we … More SA Film & Publications Board refuses to condemn Kenyan homophobia

South Africa Aligns with LGBTI Censorship

March 18, 2016

South Africa’s Film and Publications Board, headed by Sipho Risibia,  has seen it fit to align itself with Kenya’s homophobic publications board, which regularly attacks the LGBTI community and the right to freedom of speech. Thanks to our friends at Mamba Online for alerting us to the  story about the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) … More South Africa Aligns with LGBTI Censorship

BBC Report on Ugandan LGBT Refugees in Kenya Speaks to Regret

November 10, 2015

While Failing to Note that the Choices are Few to None! By Melanie Nathan, November 09, 2015. Here is a BBC TV report for which I provided consultation.  I have posted the BBC transcript report here.  The TV version with pictures can be seen on the BBC website. The report  while providing crucial exposure, leaves … More BBC Report on Ugandan LGBT Refugees in Kenya Speaks to Regret

Obama tells African Union Nobody should be president for life

July 28, 2015

By Melanie Nathan, July 28, 2015. United States President Barack Obama concluded his visit to Africa today after speaking at the African Union’s headquarters in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. This was the first time a sitting US president addressed the AU. President Obama asserted that Africa would not advance if its leaders refuse to … More Obama tells African Union Nobody should be president for life

Obama Defies Kenya Anti-Homosexuality Stance by Speaking for Equality

July 25, 2015

And warns that treating people unequally leads to bad things By Melanie Nathan, July 25, 2015. At a news conference held in in Nairobi with U.S. President Barack Obama and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, both spoke in agreement on all issues, except that of gay human rights.  President Obama responded to the question with brazen … More Obama Defies Kenya Anti-Homosexuality Stance by Speaking for Equality

President Obama Arrives in Kenya in Climate of Anti-Gay Sentiment

July 24, 2015

 By Melanie Nathan, July 24, 2015. United States President Barack Obama has arrived in Kenya on the first visit to that country, since serving as US president. During his two-day visit the President will hold talks with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and other top officials.  Arriving in  Kenya, where his father was born, he was … More President Obama Arrives in Kenya in Climate of Anti-Gay Sentiment

Kenyans March Against Gays Warning Obama No Gay Talk

July 6, 2015

By Melanie Nathan, July 7, 2015. Kenyan anti-gay protesters took to the streets in Nairobi Monday, warning US President Barack Obama not to speak about gay rights when he visits Kenya, “the country of his ancestors,” later this month. (As the Ugandan Monitor put it!) The march today, was organized by the Evangelical Alliance of … More Kenyans March Against Gays Warning Obama No Gay Talk

Kenyan Attorney General Appeals NGLHRC Registration Case

May 19, 2015

By Melanie Nathan, May 19, 2015. The Kenyan Court’s groundbreaking decision which ruled in favor of the regstering the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (NGLHRC) as an NGO under the Non-Governmental Organizations Coordination Board Act,  is now being appealed by the Kenyan Government. The Attorney General for Kenya and interested parties filed a … More Kenyan Attorney General Appeals NGLHRC Registration Case

Playbill Kenyan Slaughter Stars Scott Lively, Matthew McLaughlin with Mohammed Kuno

April 4, 2015

The inhumanity is all the same By Melanie Nathan, April 4, 2015. Slaughtered by extremists – Here lies 148 students and teachers….. What kind of human slaughters another unarmed human in cold blood?  A bullet to each head? What kind of human calls for the bullet to the head of all Christians? What kind of … More Playbill Kenyan Slaughter Stars Scott Lively, Matthew McLaughlin with Mohammed Kuno

UNHCR Puts Hold on Registrations of Large Groups of Ugandans

February 20, 2015

Of Large Groups of Ugandans who claim to have an LGBT Profile By Melanie Nathan, February 20, 2015. I reported at African HRC that unscrupulous people may be conducting scams and taking advantage of LGBTI people who seek to escape their countries of origin. Of the several problems that seem to be happening at this … More UNHCR Puts Hold on Registrations of Large Groups of Ugandans

Gay Refugee Couple from Uganda Land Safely in Canada

November 27, 2014

A Thanksgiving story – with a special thanks to those who contributed to the Relief Fund that has helped many survive unspeakable hardship By Melanie Nathan, November 26, 2014. Its been a long hard road for Kayizzi Joseph Kizito and his partner of one and half years, Rashid, a young gay couple from Uganda, who … More Gay Refugee Couple from Uganda Land Safely in Canada

Kenya Proposes Life for Local Gays and Stoning for Foreigners

August 11, 2014

By Melanie Nathan, August 11, 2014. The Kenyan Republican Liberty Party has proposed Anti-Homosexuality legislation to stone gays to death in public or to punish with life in prison. A draft Bill has been sent to the National Assembly.  All a great irony since so many Ugandans fled to Kenya, seeking refuge with UNHCR after … More Kenya Proposes Life for Local Gays and Stoning for Foreigners

Transgender Organization Wins Landmark Case in Kenya

July 24, 2014

By Melanie Nathan, July 23, 2014.The Kenya  Court  has ruled that a transgender advocacy group has the right to official registration The Daily Nation reports in Nairobi Kenya, that the high court in Kenya, in a landmark ruling , ordered the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) coordination board in Kenya to register an advocacy group for transgender people … More Transgender Organization Wins Landmark Case in Kenya

Protests Planned in Amsterdam against Anti-Gay Uganda and Nigeria

March 12, 2014

 For Global Day Against Homophobia By Melanie Nathan, March 12, 2013. On the 20th March  the world will protest homophobia and Uganda Gay On Move (UGOM), a community in the Diaspora, is scheduling a demonstration in Amsterdam, for the world global day of action against homophobia and laws that violate human dignity. The recently enacted … More Protests Planned in Amsterdam against Anti-Gay Uganda and Nigeria