By most accounts, Kenya is a ‘moderate’ country as compared with other countries in Africa. However, there are a myriad of issues that face Intersex, Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming (I.T.GNC) persons.

These have ranged from:

• forced stripping by members of the public and the police;

• sexual, verbal and physical abuse; denial of basic services in governmental agencies;

• lack of recognition of their gender identities in government policies or effective changes of name;

• denial of adequate healthcare including hormonal therapy;

• denial of educational and identity documents;

• evictions from places of residence;

• denial of gainful employment;

• lack of access to basic needs for example toilet stalls.

Most of these violations go unreported.

All this happens due to an ignorant and sometimes wilfully capricious and biased public, based on their fear of the ‘other’ or what they do not understand.

I.T.GNC persons often face reverse persecution when they report these incidents and are blamed for having caused the attacks or situations.

As a result of such attacks, feelings of insecurity and unfairness, isolation, lack of autonomy and the non-acceptance of their identities, the I.T.GNC community in Kenya is faced with issues of:

• substance dependency

• lack of physical, emotional and mental wellbeing

• lack of decent work or sources of income.

However, the I.T.GNC community has also built the resilience, courage and strength, to forge ahead despite all the challenges.

“I.T.GNC persons often face reverse persecution when they report incidents and are blamed for having caused the attacks or situations.”

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