VZCZCXRO8691
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHNR #2702/01 3650621
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O R 310620Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0299
INFO IGAD COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NAIROBI 002702 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
FOR AF/FO AND AF/RSA  - LOUIS MAZEL, LAURA GRIESMER, AND LEARNED DEES 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM KE HURI PHUM
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS TRENDS IN KENYA PERTAINING TO SEXUAL 
ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: Same sex relationships in Kenya are criminalized 
as felonies, and individuals in such relationships face strong 
public attitudes which stigmatize lesbian, gay, bisexual and 
transgender (LGBT) relationships as "un-African" and "against the 
order of nature."  However, the Kenyan government has not to post's 
knowledge prosecuted any individuals under the current 
administration, government leaders have not politicized LGBT 
issues, and the government has permitted LGBT advocacy 
organizations to register and conduct activities.  There is no 
pending legislation specifically focused on LGBT issues.  The 
proposed Harmonized Draft Constitution defines marriage as solely 
between a man and a woman, but also contains freedom from 
discrimination and equal protection clauses which could be 
interpreted to protect LGBT individuals. End summary. 
 
 
 
¶2. (SBU)  Officially, same-sex relationships are criminalized as 
felonies in Kenya.  The Kenyan Penal Code criminalizes "carnal 
knowledge against the order of nature," which is interpreted to 
prohibit homosexual activity, and specifies a maximum penalty of 14 
years imprisonment.  The use of coercion or force increases the 
penalty to 21 years imprisonment, and a separate statute prescribes 
a maximum 5 year sentence with possible corporal punishment for men 
who seek or engage in sexual activity with other men.  Despite 
these provisions, there have been no reported prosecutions of 
individuals for sexual orientation or consensual lesbian, gay, 
bisexual or transsexual (LGBT) activity in recent years.  LGBT 
advocacy organizations, such as the Gay and Lesbian Coalition of 
Kenya, have been permitted by the government to register and 
conduct activities.  Former President Moi used to make frequent 
statements condemning homosexuality as un-African and a criminal 
perversion; since his departure in 2002 politicians have generally 
avoided discussing LGBT issues in public although many express 
personal opposition in private. 
 
 
 
¶3. (SBU) Kenyan LGBT individuals face greater social stigma than 
official harassment.  A recent article in Kenya's leading newspaper 
summarized prevailing public opinion in this way: "It's hard to 
imagine a Kenya where homosexuality is viewed as anything but a 
moral and religious abomination.  The majority still link it to 
foreign influences or drug abuse, or dismiss it as a perverted 
habit practiced in upper class social cliques."  Christian and 
Muslim leaders almost uniformly condemn LGBT activity as contrary 
to their religious beliefs and evidence of immoral influences from 
developed societies.  In 2007 the Council of Imams and Preachers of 
Kenya and other civic leaders condemned homosexuality and argued 
against legalizing gay marriages. A group in Mombasa created the 
Muslim Youth Pressure Group to oppose homosexuality in 2007. 
 
 
 
¶4. (SBU)  Despite strong social condemnation, discreet LGBT 
activity is widespread and incidences of violence against LGBT 
individuals rare.  Although not a useful indicator of consensual 
LGBT activity, a 2007 Kenya Aids Indicator Survey found that male 
prostitution occurs throughout the country and that eighty-one 
percent of the clients are Kenyan. These findings run contrary to 
the perception that LGBT activity is concentrated in Coast province 
and initiated by tourists. (Note: Both hetero- and homosexual 
prostitution patronized by tourists is endemic in coastal resort 
centers. End note.)  In the past year, the Kenya National 
Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has documented several incidents 
of Muslim Imams calling for public beatings of homosexuals, but 
these statements have not resulted in reported violence.  KNCHR has 
only documented one alleged instance of violence against an LGBT 
individual this year, a case in which a lesbian couple were 
assaulted in a Nairobi nightclub by other patrons. 
 
 
 
¶5. (SBU)  Kenya's media has played a mixed role relative to LGBT 
rights.  Religious media outlets, both Muslim and Christian, tend 
to reflect the conservative views of clergy, while the 
sensationalist "gutter press" report rumors of LGBT relationships 
alongside other gossip stories.  In contrast, the two largest 
English language newspapers have run several articles condemning 
social stigma and calling for equal rights for LGBT individuals. 
 
 
 
¶6. (SBU)  There is no pending legislation specifically focused on 
LGBT issues.  The Harmonized Draft Constitution, which is in the 
midst of a process of political and public debate, defines marriage 
 
NAIROBI 00002702  002 OF 002 
 
 
as between a man and a woman, and would appear to implicitly 
prohibit LGBT marriages.  The clause states:  "The family is the 
natural and fundamental unit of society and the necessary basis of 
social order. Every adult has the right to marry a person of the 
opposite sex, based upon the free consent of the parties." 
 
 
 
¶7.  (SBU)  Though limiting the prospects for legalization of LGBT 
marriages, the draft constitution contains a bill of rights with 
provisions that could be interpreted to protect LGBT individuals. 
The bill of rights provides that "every person is equal before the 
law and has the right to equal protection and equal benefit of the 
law," and that "the State shall not discriminate directly or 
indirectly against any person on any ground, including race, sex, 
pregnancy, marital status, health status, ethnic or social origin, 
colour, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, 
dress, language or birth."  Kenyan LGBT activists believe that 
these provisions could be interpreted to protect LGBT rights, and 
have petitioned for the non-discrimination clause to explicitly 
reference sexual orientation and gender identity as protected 
categories.  Given social opposition to LGBT rights, such an 
amendment is unlikely. 
 
 
 
¶8.  (SBU)  Comment:  Although Kenya's legal and social landscape is 
clearly not LGBT friendly, discreet LGBT activity is tolerated and 
leaders have not politicized LGBT issues.  Post's contacts in the 
LGBT human rights community do not expect that Kenya will follow 
Uganda's example of introducing draconian anti-LGBT legislation. 
End comment. 
RANNEBERGER