The Director of the Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya could make the nation the second African country to have an elected gay politician, this month – despite a hate campaign against him.
David Kuria is standing to represent Kiambu County, to the north of Nairobi.
His frequent TV appearances and leadership in the gay movement has meant he is already well-known, telling LGBT Asylum News: “Our voice will never be heard if we do not stand up and speak it ourselves.”
However, he has also attracted unwelcome attention from evangelicals based in Kansas, USA, who have been using a graphic poster campaign (pictured) sharing Kuria’s contact details above an extract of bible in Swahili.
The posters are inciting violence and murder.
Despite such threats, Kuria told LGBT Asylum News: “We are very well received. Increasingly the LGBTI movement is becoming mainstreamed as legitimate stakeholders in the civil society.”
Kuria, who holds an MBA in International Business from the University of Nairobi, is regarded as one of the area’s most liberal politicians.
He is passionate about helping the poor and is opposed to the current criminalisation of people suffering from Tuberculosis. He also plans to implement a world-class health system to combat the rise of HIV, if elected.
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