There is a quiet air of excitement at the offices of the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, as the countdown draws closer to Friday when a much-awaited ruling by Kenya’s High Court could make history.
The charity has fought hundreds of cases of abuse against sexual minorities in Kenya’s courts, but the verdict on whether to scrap British colonial-era laws criminalising gay sex is undoubtedly their most eagerly anticipated case.
Section 162 of Kenya’s penal code is a British colonial law, imposed in 1930, that criminalizes consensual same~sex adult relationships. This Friday, February 22nd, after 89 years of colonial homophobia, the High Court delivers its ruling on #Repeal162.
Homosexuality is taboo in the East African nation and persecution of sexual minorities is rife. Under sections of Kenya’s penal code, gay sex – or “carnal knowledge against the order of nature” – is punishable by up to 14 years in jail.
Campaigners say the laws have long promoted homophobia in the largely conservative Christian country – and are used daily to persecute and discriminate against sexual minorities.
They face prejudice in getting jobs, renting housing or seeking medical care or education.
Hate crimes like blackmail, extortion, physical and sexual assault are common – but most are too fearful to go to the police due to their sexual orientation, say rights groups.
Many people have taken up to twitter under the hashtag #Repeal62 to express their true thoughts on the fast approaching D-day as this marks the real start to a revolution in the eyes of many of them.
Here are some of their tweets: