In September, a transgender woman was murdered and her body dumped by a road in Nairobi.
This is one of the many incidents that go unreported as violations against the LGBTQ+ community in Kenya persist.
Transgender people are increasingly visible in both popular culture and daily life, but they still face severe discrimination, stigma, violence and systemic inequality.
It is clear that violence is not limited to men and women, but also can affect people of all sexual orientations and gender identities including transgender persons.
It is often said that one’s sexual orientation, gender identity or expression is a non-issue. The violence meted upon the person is undeniably a big issue as it affects their quality of health and life.
According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention research, 43.8 per cent of lesbians, 61.1 per cent of bisexual women, 26 per cent of gays and 37.3 per cent of bisexual men have experienced rape, physical violence or stalking in their lifetime.
In comparison, 35 per cent of heterosexual women and 29 per cent of heterosexual men faced the same type of violence.
According to a Trans Murder Monitoring Report, 375 trans and gender-diverse people were reported murdered in the past year.
Kenya is no exception to this kind of global data. As with sexual violence, LGBTQ+ people face barriers to reporting domestic abuse and also violence.
Kenya is governed by laws and in a “perfect” society laws do not discriminate.
We have numerous laws, policies and frameworks that prohibit discrimination of any form to anyone against any basis, for instance, age, sex and colour.
In a National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission’s legal report 2020, 24 incidents of physical assault were reported with 20 cases currently under investigation.
This is clear evidence that Sexual and Gender Minority groups in Nairobi and beyond continue to experience abuse and violence because of who they are, because of their sexual orientation and gender identities.
The government should ensure its laws and systems protect transgender persons just like any other Kenyan citizen against all forms of violence and discrimination.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer persons in Kenya and across the world have often been on the receiving end of violence.
They suffer stigma, discrimination, physical and verbal abuse, assault, harassment, eviction from their home, loss of job, suspension or expulsion from school.
They however have a right to equality and freedom from discrimination of all forms.
The right to equality includes the full and equal enjoyment of all rights and fundamental freedoms.
Transgender persons do not want special rights, basic human rights are not special rights.
Kenya should commit to ending all forms of violence and discrimination against transgender persons, by publicly condemning any major instances of homophobic and transphobic violence.
During this transgender awareness week that ends on November 19, let us remember those in the transgender community who have lost their lives due to violence.
The government should ensure that the acts are condemned and those found capable are prosecuted.
The writer is sexual reproductive health and rights youth expert
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
