Kenya’s LGBTIQ community has launched a campaign seeking stronger political inclusion and safer electoral participation ahead of the 2027 elections. The initiative, Queering the Ballot II, calls for reforms that would secure full civic participation for queer citizens.
The campaign, led by the Initiative for Equality and Non-Discrimination, was unveiled in Nairobi on November 21, 2025, where new research was released on barriers that block LGBTIQ people from the political process. The study documented obstacles tied to registration, identity documentation, participation in political parties and safety concerns that shape voter behaviour.
Data presented during the launch showed that 82.4 per cent of respondents took part in previous election cycles, with some serving as presiding officers and clerks in the 2017 and 2022 polls. Despite this, many participants reported difficulty obtaining national identity cards. Some said they were unable to apply for IDs after being removed from home before turning eighteen. Trans participants noted problems linked to IDs that did not match their appearance during transition, a factor that led to denial of services or other forms of exclusion.
The report found that 83 per cent of online respondents believe LGBTIQ voices lack adequate representation in national politics. They linked this gap to exclusion within political parties and broader political spaces shaped by conservative positions that leave little room for queer participation.
Safety concerns featured across the findings. Many respondents said they would engage more consistently in electoral processes if security risks were addressed and if political spaces allowed open participation without threat.
Speaking at the forum, Frank Henry, who unsuccessfully vied for an MCA position in 2022 in Mukuru Kwa Njenga, noted that there is a need to train more journalists on how to report objectively.
” When I was vying, I walked with media, and could tell them when they misreported issues, which gave me a lot of milage as they would end up reporting facts,” Said Henry. insisting that there are several journalists who are still unaware of issues affecting queer constituents.
The report proposed several actions to increase inclusion. Seventy-eight per cent of respondents identified advocacy for inclusive laws and policies as a priority. More than half supported stronger networks between LGBTIQ groups and allies within government institutions. Others pointed to the need to encourage queer candidates to seek elective office and to increase the presence of LGBTIQ election observers.
INEND Executive Director Essy Adhiambo averred that voter apathy within the community remains high and urged queer Kenyans to claim space through active participation.
“What we have noticed is that when a particular political leader has no agenda, they talk about homosexuality instead of real issues like overtaxation, cost of living, education and employment. ” Noted, Essy, adding that their hope is this campaign will help queer Kenyans get to the table where they can make decisions on who governs them
Queering the Ballot II builds on a similar effort carried out before the 2022 elections and is positioned as a continued push for equal access to Kenya’s electoral and civic systems.
