I guess it is a first step

but I for one would not trust the government, and I don't see how any count they try for will be accurate given the criminialisation of homosexuality, which is punishable by up to 14 years in prison in Kenya. The idea is to reach out and educate the gay community as part of Kenya's efforts to reduce its HIV/AIDS transmission rates:


Kenya to launch homosexual census

[Nicholas Muraguri, head of Kenya's Aids prevention programme Nascop] said the survey would involve gay men identifying each other, and officials carrying out HIV tests and providing along with information on safe sexual practice.

'Kenyans cannot actually afford to say that the gay community are isolated somewhere in the corner - they are part of our lives," he said.

'This group must be reached with information and services so they know how to protect themselves from getting infected.'

There's something a little uncomfortable about basically having people rat out on each other, even if it's for a good cause. And as we know from history, the first step in eliminating a 'problem' element is quantifying it. Without registration, the Final Solution would have been much harder, for example. I'm not saying Kenya is planning on eliminating gays, I'm just saying I can understand fears of such. Still, for an African government to come out and say, yes, we acknowledge you exist and we want to help you, is amazing, given the cultural bias against homosexuality. Kenya has reduced its HIV rate by 4% in the last decade in a concerted effort to educate the populace. I wish them well at the endeavour.