The queer community in Kenya has condemned the government’s policy of discriminating against LGBTQ asylum seekers

The queer community in Kenya has launched a petition condemning the government's discrimination against LGBTQ asylum seekers.

This action comes in response to comments made by Refugee Affairs Commissioner John Burugu, who stated that Kenya would not consider persecution based on sexual orientation or gender identity as sufficient grounds for asylum.

The petition accuses Kenya's Department of Refugee Services of putting queer asylum seekers at greater risk of persecution, violence, and exploitation.

The Kenya 2021 Refugees Act does not explicitly recognize queer people among vulnerable individuals fleeing persecution. The law only recognizes refugees or asylum seekers as people who are persecuted based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership of a social group. 

LGBTQ asylum seekers face prolonged waiting periods, sometimes up to a decade, for decisions on their applications.

The petition has garnered over 200 signatures and will be presented to various Kenyan and international human rights bodies.

Petitioners are calling for immediate action to protect LGBTQ asylum seekers and ensure their rights are respected under international law.

The situation for LGBTQ asylum seekers in Kenya has reportedly worsened since 2017.

There are an estimated 1,000 LGBTQ refugees in Kenya, with many fleeing from neighboring countries like Uganda.

The Center for Minority Rights and Strategic Litigation, a Kenyan LGBTQ rights group, has criticized the government's stance, stating that it violates both national and international laws protecting refugees.

The petition aims to address discrimination, expedite application processes, and ensure representation for LGBTQ asylum seekers in global decision-making forums

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