As the
world marked the United Nations International Day of Families, a diverse
coalition of citizens in the country came together with a unified message that families
need protection, not propaganda.
In a press statement released on Wednesday, grassroots voices from across the country decried what they termed as rising threats to the dignity, security, and diversity of families in Kenya.
The meeting was convened at the Boma Hotel in Nairobi by the Coalition of Grassroots Human Rights Defenders.
The coalition called for urgent action to address the real needs of families.
The statement, titled “Kenyan Families Deserve Protection, Not Propaganda,”
warned against the growing influence of some organisations which they said are fueling
exclusion and pushing for intolerant narratives about what constitutes a family
in Kenya.
The groups, according to the statement, have sought to impose narrow definitions of family, undermining the nation’s rich tapestry of family structures and violating constitutional values.
“These groups push for exclusionary laws and promote foreign-backed agendas rooted in control, not protection,” the statement read.
“Their rhetoric fuels fear, turning homes into battlegrounds where women and girls are silenced, queer children are rejected, and loved ones are cast as enemies for being different.”
Rather than addressing Kenya’s urgent and widespread challenges such as poverty, corruption, violence, and climate-related crises, the groups are focusing on what the statement calls “phantom threats.”
The signatories argue that this redirection of attention and policy energy is harmful and deliberately divisive.
“This is not preserving family, it is tearing it apart,” the statement added.
Quoting Article 45 of the Constitution of Kenya, the coalition noted that the family is the fundamental unit of society, and that all families, regardless of their composition, deserve dignity and protection.
They highlighted a broad and inclusive definition of family that reflects Kenyan reality.
“single mothers, polygamous fathers, sex worker parents, children born through surrogates, orphaned homesteads, and many more who have increasingly been excluded from social protection,” they said.
What matters most, the statement emphasised, is not the form a family takes, but the love, care, and communal responsibility that binds its members.
“True Kenyan family values are rooted in compassion, not exclusion,” the statement read.
One of the most alarming issues raised in the press statement is the widespread discrimination facing LGBTQ+ individuals and others who don’t conform to narrowly defined social norms.
The coalition cited research from the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), which revealed that 71 per cent of LGBTQ+ individuals in Kenya have experienced some form of discrimination or bias based on their sexual and gender identities.
“This level of exclusion cannot be ignored. We call for an end to stigma and discrimination against those living with HIV, against our LGBTQ family members, and against any group that some try to label as outsiders.”
Discrimination, the signatories warned, weakens family bonds and poisons communities. A family, they argue, should be a haven where all members feel safe, loved, and respected.
Rather than divisive rhetoric and exclusionary policies, Kenyan families are calling for meaningful support to overcome the real challenges they face.
Economic security remains at the heart of family well-being. With the cost of living continuing to rise, many families are struggling to survive.
The coalition called for job creation, equal opportunities for women and youth, and stronger social safety nets.
“No Kenyan family should be driven into destitution or hunger. Economic justice is a family value,” the statement said.
Homes should be safe havens, not sites of fear. The statement stressed the importance of ending domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual violence.
Laws protecting women, children, and men must be enforced and backed by real investment in survivor shelters and services.
“Safety for all family members will allow our communities to flourish,” the statement added.
Respect for bodily autonomy was another critical issue raised. The signatories demanded an end to practices that harm or control women and girls, such as female genital mutilation, child marriage, and marital rape, and called for access to reproductive healthcare.
They also emphasised that queer and transgender individuals must have the right to live with dignity and autonomy.
“Upholding personal dignity and choice strengthens the family unit,” it said.
The statement highlighted the need for inclusive education that ensures girls are not forced out of school due to pregnancy, and where no child is bullied or excluded for being “different.”
It also called for comprehensive sexuality and life-skills education that teaches young people about consent, safety, and bodily respect.
“We need age-appropriate, comprehensive sexuality education so young people grow up informed… and can report when they detect predators,” the statement read.
Access to healthcare remains another urgent issue. Many Kenyan families face steep medical costs or lack nearby clinics.
The coalition called for real investment in public health systems, including
maternal care, vaccinations, nutrition, and mental health services.
They also stressed the need to operationalise the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF/SHA) to ensure universal healthcare access, especially in rural and low-income areas. “Healthcare isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity,” it said.
The statement reaffirmed the need to end all forms of discrimination within and beyond the family unit.
No person, they argued, should be excluded or rejected because of their gender, tribe, religion, disability, or sexual orientation.
“When we embrace each other’s differences, our family bonds grow stronger,” they said in the statement.
The statement called for action by national leaders, religious figures, and Kenyan communities at large.
The coalition urged President William Ruto and all elected officials to uphold the Constitution by protecting every family, not just a select few.
That means rejecting any proposed laws or policies that discriminate based on identity or family structure.
They called on the government to prioritise the needs of families through meaningful social investment. Protection, they said, should not just be about rhetoric but about real support, especially during times of crisis such as floods, droughts, and economic hardship.
Religious and community leaders were urged to promote compassion over exclusion. The coalition called on spiritual and cultural figures to foster honest conversations about family diversity, inclusion, and equality.
“Stop using the family as a weapon to foment hate. Let’s have open conversations in our churches, mosques, temples, schools, and homes about acceptance, equality, and understanding,” they demanded.
