Kenya and gay rights - what is at stake

The Kenyan Penal code current criminalises same sex relations sections 162 and 165 . A penalty can be 14 years in prison.

the courts recently postponed a reconsideration of the code until May

This interesting article from the Conversation sets such laws in a wider colonial context

for further information try these resources.

For background context see the UK Home Office background document (published in 2017)

in 2013 the Pew Global attitudes survey found an intolerance to gay men women in Kenya with 90% of those surveyed stating society should not accept homosexuality.


The National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (NGLHRC) is an independent human rights institution working for legal and policy reforms. Its website has information on its legal work including case decisions and campaigns

Gay and Lesbian coalition of Kenya also has campaign materials on its website

as does PEMA Kenya

it is leading a social media campaign #Repeal162.

Human Rights Watch has reports of homophobic attacks in Kenya

for information on other countries where it is currently illegal to be gay see the ILGA mapping