This story by Daniel Kipchumba, which County News Digital originally published on 10 January 2024, is part of a series produced with support from the Arcus Foundation and the National Endowment for Democracy. It emerged from Taboom Media’s November 2023 journalism training workshop.

NAKURU, Kenya — In Kenya, as in many other countries, LGBTQ+ individuals face discrimination, segregation, and even attacks from both society and religious institutions.

While this is commonly observed among Christian and Muslim communities that dominate Kenyan society, it is also prevalent among smaller faiths such as Rastafari. 

Despite Rastafarianism’s purported principles of unity, justice, and equality, many Rastafarians discriminate against and marginalize gender and sexual minorities.

Leaders within the Rastafari community, including Ras Kimathi, chairman of the Rastafari community in Nakuru, explicitly state that non-heterosexual individuals are not welcome in the religion.

According to Kimathi, the faith’s pillars of unity, justice, and equality only apply to those who adhere to traditional male-female sexual relationships. He argues that same-sex relationships violate God’s commandments, thus making some LGBTQ+ individuals incompatible with Rastafarian beliefs.

“Our faith is all-inclusive, but based on LGBTQ+ behaviours, they are a unique category of people whose behaviours are against our beliefs, and therefore we can’t accept them,” he said.

Ras Makau, the deputy chairman of Nakuru’s Rastafari community echoes Kimathi’s sentiments and propagates unfounded conspiracy theories surrounding gender and sexual diversity.

“These [LGBTQ+] people have embraced the Western ideology, not knowing that it is a conduit to end the black lineage for reasons they well know themselves. Even if they were left alone, the [LGBTQ+] community will fizzle out because they can’t procreate to produce children,” he said.

In reality, gender and sexual diversity has existed in Kenya throughout history, and various methods, including assisted reproductive technologies, allow gender and sexual minorities to have children.

The Nakuru-based Rastafari leadership portrays non-heterosexuality as a vice surpassing all other sins. They employ incorrect assertions, such as implying that homosexuality is unnatural by pointing to the absence of same-sex sexual activities in other species.

However, scientific research has documented same-sex sexual behavior in over 1,500 animal species, demonstrating its natural occurrence.

Members of the LGBTQ+ community like Orlando (not his real name), express sadness and disappointment in the Rastafari leadership’s untruthful statements and anti-LGBTQ+ stance.

However, within an environment where LGBTQ+ individuals face open discrimination from major religious institutions and society as a whole, Orlando’s experience is sadly not surprising.

The constant ridicule and rejection experienced by LGBTQ+ people can have severe psychological and emotional effects, including depression, low self-esteem, and even suicidal thoughts.

He has endured ridicule from close family members and friends since they learned his sexual orientation in 2017.

“What kind of faith or religion accepts people selectively in society while they preach and emphasize love amongst humanity?” Orlando asked, referring to Rastafarianism.

Counseling psychologist Mrs. Ann Kamau emphasizes the negative consequences of discrimination, stigma, and marginalization on individuals and social groups. She encourages individuals facing discrimination to seek professional counseling before the situation escalates.

“Discrimination causes low productivity at work, depression, self-hate, and negative attitudes that can push individuals to actualize suicidal thoughts,” she said.

The recent ruling by Kenya’s Supreme Court affirming the registration of the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (NGHLRC) brings hope to LGBTQ+ individuals like Orlando, who aspire to live in a free and safe society.

Discriminatory laws in Kenya contribute to the mistaken perception that LGBTQ+ individuals are criminals, perpetuating human rights violations and acts of violence against them.

Discrimination extends beyond interpersonal interactions and impacts various aspects of life, including healthcare access, livelihoods, education, and justice mechanisms.

Organizations like galck+ advocate for equality and work to combat discrimination and violence against LGBTQ+ individuals in Kenya.

According to galck+ (formerly the Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya), 53% of LGBTQ+ people in Kenya have experienced physical assault but only 29% of those people reported the assault to authorities, often due to fear that they will be revictimized if they disclose crimes against them.

It further states that discriminatory laws foster a mistaken view in society that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people are criminals, which perpetuates human rights violations and other acts of violence against them.

According to a 2013 report by the Kenyan rights group Minority Women in Action titled: The Status of Women Who Have Sex with Women in Kenya, discrimination against LGBTQ+ people extends to healthcare access, livelihoods, education, justice mechanisms and other vital services that are supposed to be dispensed with equality.