By; Sarah Kagendo, Director, LEHA and Wendy Otieno, Linking and Learning Amplifier Officer, Kenya. 

In 2018, LEHA conducted conversation spaces that provide safe spaces for LBQ women to speak out on various violations that they face daily.  These included but are not limited to, sexual violence, intimate partner violence and physical abuse. During the implementation of the project, LEHA held advocacy meetings aimed at reducing stigma for LBQ women which is responsible for a majority of women not accessing basic services.  

LEHA met several women through the project period such as *Nanjala.  Nanjala stayed with abusive guardians who beat her regularly because of her sexual orientation. Nanjala had no source of income hence was unable to seek alternative residence.  In December 2019, she first reported the abuse she was undergoing and was then taken through comprehensive counselling which included trauma counselling and sensitization on ways to identify red flags before violence erupts as well as how to take care of her mental wellness.  

In June 2020, the violence recurred and with the help of paralegals trained by the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (NGLHRC) the team was able to involve NGLHRC who then supported Nanjala to relocate. Today, Nanjala runs a shoes and clothes selling business together with her partner and is able to cater for their basic needs.  Most importantly is that they are safe. 

 Nanjala’s story is one among the many that the LEHA team handled during their project implementation. With the advocacy forums conducted the LBQ community got aware of their rights and have become more willing to access Sexual Rights Health (SRH) services without fear of stigma and discrimination. The peer education sessions have created a safe space for more of the rural LBQ persons to access information on COVID-19, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression and sex characteristics, violence, hygiene, and human rights.  As a consequence of increased awareness, access to biomedical and psychosocial services has increased in the more remote regions of Kiambu County and at the drop-in centre as well as uptake of services at the community outreaches. 

In recognition of her role LEHA has been included in the, Key Population Technical Working Group which focuses on addressing advocacy issues relating to the key population in Kiambu county.  This group that includes Sex workers,  Men  Having  Sex  with  Men  (MSM)  People  who  Inject Drugs  (PWID)  and  LBQ persons brings together key population partners concerned with the  health  issues of Key Populations such as LVCT health, Mamboleo Peer Empowerment Group, LEHA self-help group, and the County health management team.    

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about new psychological challenges in addition to the mental health challenges caused by the prevalence of stigma and discrimination LEHA constituents faced.  Psychosocial support to groups of individuals and mental health clinics in the outreaches have kept the psychosocial support ongoing thus mental health well catered for. As a result of all these interventions, health education on violence prevention and case reporting has created more awareness more cases being documented especially with the rise of violence experienced during the pandemic. 

*Please note for the purpose of this story, the name Nanjala is not the actual name of the individual whose story has been shared.