TWO ARRESTED FOR BOGUS LESBIANISM CHARGE - KENYA

Simangele Mzizi (BTM Intern)

KENYA – 05 November 2009: Two Kenyan lesbians have been released on bail after being allegedly arrested for lesbianism, and later being charged with stealing, an offence which the women refuted suggesting it was blackmail.
 
According to the co-ordinator from the Solidarity with Communities in Distress (SOLCODI) Program which advocates for the gay and lesbian community, the women are being blackmailed because they are lesbians.

“While we appreciate the media for covering the issues of sexual minority in Kenya, it has also led to uprising rebellion from the society. This has forced many members of the LGBT to live in fear because there security is not guaranteed black mailing is also an issue”, said our source from SOLCODI who did not want to be named.

The co-ordinator alleges that the lesbian women had a misunderstanding with a person close to them who then decided to blackmail them by exposing their sexual orientation further accusing them of stealing her possessions.

According to a representative from the International Federation for Human Rights, the women were arrested on Tuesday, 20 October, after their house was broken into and raided by police following a lead from a neighbour and they were held at the Kondele police station overnight.

During the first court appearance the women denied the charges brought against them, and were released on bail of 5000 Kenyan shillings each and will appear again in court on 27 November this year.

Initially when the two women were arrested it emerged that they were charged with lesbianism a charge which does not exist within Kenyan Laws according to the representative from the International Federation for Human Rights.

Due to the high legal fees the case has been taken up by a human rights lawyer.

Homosexuality is still taboo in Kenya with religious leaders saying it is against both African culture and biblical teachings; even though there are there are gay and lesbian people in the country.

Currently in Kenya homosexuality is illegal however lesbian relations are not mentioned in the law. Sections 162 to 165 of the Penal Code only criminalizes homosexual behaviour and attempted homosexual behaviour between men and the penalty is 5 to 14 years' imprisonment.

“We are still following the case despite security concerns discrimination against the gay and lesbian community is a serious problem in Kenya”, said the representative from SOLCODI.