CIVICUS discusses Kenya’s proposed Family Protection Bill with Arsenekah Ezekiel, executive director of World Post Changers Network, a Kenyan civil society organisation (CSO) that advocates for LGBTQI+ rights.
Amid growing conservative backlash, Member of Parliament Peter Kaluma is urging parliament to advance the Family Protection Bill 2023, which has encountered multiple delays. The bill aims to outlaw same-sex relationships, LGBTQI+ activities, public cross-dressing and related advocacy campaigns. Kaluma is also challenging a 2023 Supreme Court ruling that allowed the registration of LGBTQI+ organisations in Kenya. The current debate is part of a global backlash against gender policies, which has further intensified with Donald Trump’s return to the US presidency.