LGBT Rights in Rift Valley
Province

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Public Opinion

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History

Homosexual activity in Rift Valley

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Homosexual activity in Rift Valley is illegal (imprisonment as punishment).

Current status
Since Aug 1, 1930
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
Article 162, 163 and 165 prohibits homosexuality and offender is punishable by up to 21 years in prison with hard labor and fines
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Same-sex marriage in Rift Valley

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Same-sex marriage in Rift Valley is banned.

Current status
Since Feb 2, 2010
Banned
Since 2010, the Constitution of Kenya has defined marriage strictly as a union between a man and woman.

Censorship of LGBT issues in Rift Valley

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Censorship of LGBT issues in Rift Valley is state-enforced.

Current status
Since 2012
State-enforced under federal Kenya law
The Kenyan Film Classification Board Guidelines of 2012 explicitly list homosexuality as requiring a restricted classification in a more egregious sense than heterosexuality. This has led to cases like of cartoons with LGBTIQ+ themes despite the lack of sexual content still getting banned from airing, such as Steven Universe, Adventure Time and Gravity Falls for being "pro-gay".

The Family Protection Bill of 2023 also explicitly prohibits the "promotion" of homosexuality.

Right to change legal gender in Rift Valley

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Right to change legal gender in Rift Valley is ambiguous.

Current status
Since Jul 26, 2022
Ambiguous
New legislation only allows intersex persons identified as male or female at birth to request a change to “I.”
Until Jul 26, 2022
Illegal under federal Kenya law
Until 2022, legal gender recognition was not provided in Kenya.
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Gender-affirming care in Rift Valley

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Gender-affirming care in Rift Valley is restricted.

Current status
Since 1986
Restricted
In 1986, Kenya legalized sterilization, which de facto meant legalizing sex reassignment surgery, however, medical records regarding transsexualism had to be obtained abroad.
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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Rift Valley

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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Rift Valley is intersex only.

Current status
Since Jul 26, 2022
Intersex only
The Children Act 2022 states that “The Principal Registrar shall take measures to ensure correct documentation and registration of intersex children at birth.” There's also an amendment to the Births and Deaths Registration Act which states that the Register “shall include details of an intersex child and intersex person.”
Sources:
www.judiciary.go.ke/downloa… (pages 441 and 604)
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LGBT discrimination in Rift Valley

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LGBT discrimination in Rift Valley is illegal in some contexts.

Current status
Since Jul 2022
Illegal in some contexts
There is limited protection based on sexual orientation.

The Data Protection Act (2019) states that "sensitive personal data" means "data revealing the natural person's race, health status, ethnic social origin, conscience, belief, genetic data, biometric data, property details, marital status, family details including names of the person's children, parents, spouse or spouses, sex or the sexual orientation of the data subject."

Some protections for intersex children under The Children Act 2022. The law requires intersex children to be treated with dignity and have equal access to basic services like medical treatment and education, in addition to social protection services as a special need. It also requires the accommodation of intersex children in child protection centers and other facilities.
Until Jan 2022
No protections under federal Kenya law
Until 2022, there were no protections from discrimination provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Kenya
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LGBT employment discrimination in Rift Valley

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LGBT employment discrimination in Rift Valley is no protections.

Current status
No protections
There are no legal protections from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
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LGBT housing discrimination in Rift Valley

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LGBT housing discrimination in Rift Valley is no protections.

Current status
No protections
There are no protections from discrimination in housing provided to LGBTIQ+ people in Kenya.
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Same-sex adoption in Rift Valley

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Same-sex adoption in Rift Valley is illegal.

Current status
Since Mar 1, 2002
Illegal
Same-sex couples or even homosexuals are not allowed to adopt in Kenya. Chapter 141, Section 158 of Kenya's The Children Act states: "An adoption order shall not be made if the applicant or, in the case of joint applicants, both or any of them [...] is a homosexual."

Intersex infant surgery in Rift Valley

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Intersex infant surgery in Rift Valley is full ban.

Current status
Since Jul 26, 2022
Full ban
On July 26, 2022, Kenya moved to ban surgeries on intersex infants.
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Serving openly in military in Rift Valley

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Serving openly in military in Rift Valley is illegal.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 1941
Illegal
The International Lesbian and Gay Association states that homosexuals are not allowed to serve in the Kenya Defence Forces, however, it's unclear if this is a written law and if so, when this law was passed.
Aug 1, 1930–Feb 1, 1940
Don't Ask, Don't Tell
No laws restricting or criminalizing lgbt serving.
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Blood donations by MSMs in Rift Valley

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Blood donations by MSMs in Rift Valley is ambiguous.

Current status
Since 2022
Ambiguous
Kenya National Standards for Blood Transfusion Service guideline published by Kenyan Ministry of Health in 2022 does not include specific ban on blood donation by MSMs. However, sexual activity between men is illegal.
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Until 2022
Banned (indefinite deferral)
not allowed
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Conversion therapy in Rift Valley

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Conversion therapy in Rift Valley is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
conversion therapy is widely available
Sources:
see wiki article
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Equal age of consent in Rift Valley

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Equal age of consent in Rift Valley is n/a.

Current status
N/A
The age of consent in Kenya is 18 years for heterosexuals. Since homosexual activity is illegal, there is no age of consent for homosexuals.
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