In Kenya, Ugandan refugee Constance expresses concern over the government’s Shirika Plan, which aims to integrate over 800,000 refugees, including those from LGBTQ communities, into society. Launched by President William Ruto, the plan seeks to transform Kakuma and Dadaab camps into open cities, allowing refugees access to jobs and healthcare while promoting their rights. However, Constance worries that LGBTQ voices are being excluded from discussions, limiting their ability to address security and housing concerns specifically faced by them.
Though authorities assert that all groups have been given the opportunity to comment, LGBTQ organizations fear their unique issues are overlooked. The Shirika Plan, hailed by the UNHCR as a chance to enhance refugee conditions, is also seen as a potential catalyst for rising anti-LGBTQ sentiment in a country already hostile to such communities.
While Kenya has historically been a haven for LGBTQ refugees, the legal status that sometimes protects them is paired with reports of homophobic discrimination, complicating their integration into Kenyan society. Activists stress the need for specific measures to ensure safety within the more open community context the Shirika Plan promotes.
Funding for the initiative is anticipated from varied sources, and despite the promise of economic upliftment, local leaders are calling for repatriation instead of integration due to insufficient community consultation. Amidst ongoing delays in asylum processing, Constance and others await decisions on their refugee status, exacerbating their feelings of uncertainty and insecurity in an increasingly complex landscape. They appeal for the Shirika Plan to explicitly include LGBTQ rights alongside other human rights as Kenyan society evolves.
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