Homophobic and Transphobic murders at Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya
Kakuma refugee camp, the largest in the world, was established in 1992 in the arid north west of Kenya near the border with Uganda and Sudan. As of 2020 has a population of 196,666 registered refugees and asylum seekers and an untold number of unregistered. This information and more can be found on UNHCR’s website.
What you will not read on UNHCR’s website is any mention of the approximately 300 LGBTIQ+ refugees who have been living under homophobic and transphobic violence for years; you will not find any information on how difficult it is for refugees to achieve self-reliance due in large to the restrictive regulations against movement in and out of the camp.
Violence committed by homophobic and transphobic camp residents has a long history in the camp. Over the past 12 to 18 months LGBTQIA+ refugees have begun to take action by documenting their lives in the camp and holding interviews with activists in other parts of Africa, the US and Europe; and pressurizing UNHCR.
LGBTIQ+ refugees living in a section of the camp, Block 13, have been beaten, stabbed and verbally abused. For them, this is one of the most dangerous places on earth to live. Essentially those living in Block 13 are under siege by the violence against them, by their inability to travel independently, engage in economic activity and the refusal by UNHCR to provide them with security and a safe environment or even to admit that LGBTQIA+ refugees are in danger. Rather UNHCR has engaged in a narrative of victim blaming by being “out” and “proud”.
For more on Block 13:
- Interview and Block 13 protest following March 15th attack [video]
- Interview following a homophobic assault of three lesbians and a minor in Kakuma Refugee Camp [video]
- Call for Evacuation of LGBTQ+ Survivors from Block 13 Kakuma https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ5oGhe6wM8
- Victor Mukasa Show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFT9WB1keiE
- UPDATE: Attacks on Trinidad and Jordan.
On March 15, a petrol bomb was thrown at LGBTQIA residents of Block 13 who were sleeping outside at the time [see video below on refugees having to sleep outside with no shelter]. This was the 4th fire attack on Block 13 this year. As a result of this latest attack, Chriton ‘Trinidad’ Atuhwera, and Ayesigye Jordan suffered 2nd-degree burns. They were first taken to a local hospital but with no burn unit it was several days before they could be airlifted to a Nairobi hospital. On arrival the two were separated thus adding to their anguish. On Monday 12th April, 29 year old Trinidad died from their burns and Jordan remains in critical condition.
Whilst we recognize that all residents of the Kakuma Camp face huge challenges in all aspects of their lives, homophobic and transphobic violence cannot be allowed to continue. To expect and require that LGBTQIA residents hide themselves in the closet, which is what UNHCR is implying, places the responsibility for safety on the violated. It is UNHCR who has an immediate responsibility to ensure the safety of all LGBTQIA residents and to investigate the murder and attacks that have taken place in Block 13.
