The worsening plight of LGBT refugees in Kenya

The situation is worsening for LGBT Ugandan refugees in Kenya, as reported by Erasing 76 Crimes on May 11:

Kenya arrests LGBTI refugees, sends them into danger

Response to this humanitarian crisis has fallen largely to a network of concerned activists around the globe. One such is Richard de Luchi, a British citizen living in Lisbon, who wrote the following this morning:

Good morning from me in Lisbon,

I understand that the 18 lgbtiq who were arrested in Nairobi last week have now been taken into custody by the Kenya police at the camp. I am informed that this was following protests by these persons of concern at conditions and treatment.

Do we need to be reminded that these people are refugees, not criminals, and that they should be under the protective care of UNHCR. I have been told that once in police custody, a person has no connection with the outside world via mobile phone. I am ignorant of the legal process regarding arrest and detainment in Kenya, but trust that these persons of concern are accessible by humanitarian organisations. If not, then something is seriously wrong, especially since one of these persons was badly beaten by police last week: see the attached photograph. Who knows now how many more have received the same brutal, unchecked treatment.

The purpose of this email, apart from registering my protest at the whole turn of events, is to urge anyone and everyone to use their influence or power of words to get these 18 individuals out of Kakuma and into some form of safe housing where their resettlement processes may be dealt with in a calm and civilised manner. The image of Kenya before the world is not a good one, and I feel that it is high time that the country live up to international standards of treatment of citizens both national and those who are there simply because of UNHCR.

There but for the grace of God go I is a saying that should be quoted more often in a world where the human race is in danger of losing its capacity for compassion.

Once again, pressure at the highest level in government and diplomacy is called for.

With all good wishes,
Richard de Luchi

Mr. de Luchi wrote a follow-up a few hours later:

De: Richard de Luchi
Enviado: quinta-feira, 25 de maio de 2017 12:52
Para: contactus@amnesty.org
Assunto: LGBTIQ Refugee Situation in Kenya

Good afternoon,

I am writing to you about the fast deteriorating situation regarding LGBTIQ asylum seekers and refugees in Kenya.

For some months now I have been in contact with individual persons of concern and they all report the same problems with their situation in the country. The refugees are for the most part Ugandans, but also from neighbouring countries with equally draconian laws and attitudes towards gay people. May I assume that you are familiar with the level of danger and insecurity that gay people suffer across the African continent. If you require answers to questions, then either I or one of my contacts in kenya should be able to answer them.

All my contacts tell of:

1. Homophobia in all sections of Kenyan society, and at UNHCR HQ in Nairobi.
2. Lack of funding, largely due to supension of monthly stipends from UNHCR and various organisations with connections to UNHCR
3. Lengthy periods of waiting, wither to be called to interview to start the resettlement process, or between the interviews that lead up to being accepted for resettlement. Some persons of concern have been in Kenya fro 3 years or more, when the normal processing period on average is, I understand, between 18 months and 2 years.
4. The difficulty, or even impossibility, of finding work as Kenyan labour laws are not sympathetic to aliens working, and holders of refugee ID cards are particularly singled out for discimination.
5. The apparent indifference on the part of officials at UNHCR, for reasons best known to themselves, to the processing of persons of concern for resettlement.
6. The fact that resettlement processing has been taken over by the Government of Kenya, which means that, thanks to the homophobic laws in that country, gay people are, ipso facto, criminals rather than asylum seekers or refugees entitled to UNHCR protection.
7. Problems in housing: eviction by landlords thanks to denunciation by homophobic neighbours. This often results in homelessness with the attendant dangers of mob violence and, as happened last week, arrest and brutality by the police.
8. The situation at the Kakuma refugee camp in northern Kenya, where 18 persons of concern were taken last week and have been suffering police brutality, as well as homophobia from other camp residents. The latest episode here is the arrest of LGBTIQ protesting the appalling conditions in the camp. The question is, why are they there in the first place. My contacts speak of the initial arrest being made with the collusion of UNHCR.
9. Being prevented from entering UNHCR HQ at Westlands in Nairobi to attend interviews, even when in the possession of legal documentation.
10. The lack of respect being granted to them as human beings, with some notable exceptions at UNHCR.

I should be personally most grateful if you could give this email your most serious attention. The current situation in Kenya is dire, and is bound to get worse since the country is coming up to elections. Somehow Kenya has to be made to realise that its policies are inimical to the world of the 21st century as we would like to see it. I am preaching to the converted, so shall leave it there.

Yours sincerely,
Richard de Luchi
British citizen, supporter of Amnesty International, living in Lisbon, Portugal

I (Rick Rosendall in Washington, D.C.) am in contact with two gay Ugandan refugees in Kenya, who were not among the 18 sent to Kakuma. They are in fear and are hopeful that increased international attention will help. You can use this contact info for the American ambassador to urge him to weigh in with the Kenyan government and UNHCR on behalf of the refugees:

Ambassador Robert F. Godec
(Click on name to send email)
U.S. Embassy Nairobi
Phone: 254 20 363-6000
Fax: 254 20 363-6157

Many individuals raising our voices can grow into a chorus. The least we can do is try. Silence equals death.