Report: The Politics of Social (In) Exclusion of LGBTQ+ People in Kenya: A Political Economy Analysis

Abstract

This study report presents a political economy analysis of the social exclusion of LGBTQ+ people in Kenya, examining the formal and informal policies, actors, and power dynamics that shape their inclusion and exclusion in Kenyan society. Produced by the African Population and Health Research Center under the Challenging the Politics of Social Exclusion project, the report maps the legal and policy environment affecting sexual and gender minorities in Kenya, along with the critical actors, both formal and informal, who influence outcomes for this population, and the relationships and power dynamics among them. Drawing on qualitative data collection, including focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, key informant interviews, and case histories conducted across several Kenyan cities, the analysis situates the social exclusion of LGBTQ+ people within Kenya's broader political and institutional landscape. It offers evidence to inform advocacy and policy engagement strategies aimed at addressing the structural and political drivers of exclusion facing sexual and gender minorities in the country.