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LGBT Rights in Kenya

    Homosexuality
    ✖ Male illegal, female uncertain
    Gay Marriage
    ✖ Not legal
    Censorship
    ✔ No censorship
    Changing Gender
    ✖ Legal, but requires surgery
    Non-binary gender recognition
    ✖ Intersex only
    Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Employment Discrimination
    Ambiguous
    Housing Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Adoption
    ✖ Illegal
    Military
    ✖ Illegal
    Donating Blood
    ✔ Legal
    Conversion Therapy
    Ambiguous
    Age of Consent
    N/A
Suggest Public Opinion Data

Public Opinion

"Should society accept homosexuality?" (2019) ?

Ranked #31 out of 34 regions surveyed. (Source: Pew Research Center, May–October, 2019)
(83%) No
Yes (14%)

Acceptance of Homosexuals as Neighbors ?

Ranked #18 out of 33 regions surveyed. (Source: Afrobarometer, 2014–2016)
(83.77%) Not tolerate
Tolerate (14.06%)

Acceptance of Homosexuals as Neighbors ?

Ranked #18 out of 34 regions surveyed. (Source: Afrobarometer, 2016–2018)
(85.74%) Not tolerate
Tolerate (9.19%)

"Should society accept homosexuality?" (2013) ?

Ranked #29 out of 39 regions surveyed. (Source: Pew Research Center, June, 2013)
(90%) No
Yes (8%)

Perceived Acceptance of Gay People ?

Ranked #91 out of 119 regions surveyed. (Source: Gallup, 2013)
(83%) Not a good place
Good place (11%)

History

Homosexual activity in Kenya

?

Homosexual activity in Kenya is male illegal, female uncertain.

Current status
Since Aug 1, 1930
Male illegal, female uncertain
Article 162, 163 and 165 prohibits homosexuality and offender is punishable by from 5 to 14 years in prison. Female same-sexual activity not explicitly prohibited by law, LGBT women are not recognized. Decriminalization pending.
Added by vviet93  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Same-sex marriage in Kenya

?

Same-sex marriage in Kenya is not legal.

Current status
Since Nov 29, 1902
Not legal
Marriage defined as a union between a man and a woman
Added by vviet93  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Censorship of LGBT Issues in Kenya

?

Censorship of LGBT Issues in Kenya is no censorship.

Current status
No censorship
In Kenya, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Added by equaldex  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Right to change legal gender in Kenya

?

Right to change legal gender in Kenya is legal, but requires surgery.

Current status
Legal, but requires surgery
Legal gender change is possible, but usually requires surgery.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Kenya

?

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Kenya is intersex only.

Current status
Since Jul 2022
Intersex only
Intersex people can now be identified with an I gender marker on their birth certificate in Kenya. Genital surgery on intersex babies is now punishable by a 5000$ fine.
Added by Notdog1996  ·  1 accurate vote  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT discrimination in Kenya

?

LGBT discrimination in Kenya is no protections.

Current status
Since Aug 1, 1930
No protections
As homosexuality is currently illegal, discrimination against LGBT persons are legal.
Added by vviet93  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT employment discrimination in Kenya

?

LGBT employment discrimination in Kenya is ambiguous.

Current status
Since Aug 1, 1930
Ambiguous
Some through human rights institute for sexual orientation only.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

LGBT housing discrimination in Kenya

?

LGBT housing discrimination in Kenya is no protections.

Current status
Since Aug 1, 1930
No protections
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Same-sex adoption in Kenya

?

Same-sex adoption in Kenya is illegal.

Current status
Since Mar 1, 2002
Illegal
Same-sex couples or even homosexuals are not allowed to adopt in Kenya. Chapter 141, Section 158 of Kenya's The Children Act states: "An adoption order shall not be made if the applicant or, in the case of joint applicants, both or any of them [...] is a homosexual."
Added by danlev  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Serving openly in military in Kenya

?

Serving openly in military in Kenya is illegal.

Current status
Illegal
The International Lesbian and Gay Association states that homosexuals are not allowed to serve in the Kenya Defence Forces, however, it's unclear if this is a written law and if so, when this law was passed.
Added by danlev  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Aug 1, 1930–Sep 1, 2018
Legal
No laws restricting or criminalizing lgbt serving.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Blood donations by MSMs in Kenya

?

Blood donations by MSMs in Kenya is legal.

Current status
Legal
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Conversion therapy in Kenya

?

Conversion therapy in Kenya is ambiguous.

Current status
Ambiguous
Some fines. However widely practiced.
Added by Ausyk  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log

Equal age of consent in Kenya

?

Equal age of consent in Kenya is n/a.

Current status
N/A
The age of consent in Kenya is 18 years for heterosexuals. Since homosexual activity is illegal, there is no age of consent for homosexuals.
Added by danlev  ·  0 accurate votes  ·  Report Error  ·  Log