Other Sheep Kenya 2009 Report

Warm greetings from Other Sheep Kenya. Other Sheep Kenya- Multicultural Ministries with sexual minorities is an ecumenical organization that focuses its work primarily on the religious and social justice for LGBTI persons. This organization seeks to empower sexual minorities and their families and friends (PFLAG) with the message that God loves all LGBTI persons as they are and invites them into inclusive and gay-affirming faith communities.

The main purpose of the organization is to restore hope and purpose and eradicate stigma and suffering among the sexual minorities and their families in Kenya. According to needs assessment carried out by Other Sheep Kenya, there is still a high degree of religious homophobia and transphobia in Kenya. It is evident that most LGBTI in Kenya are living in fear and in the closet. Some have met both physical and spiritual violence making them to run a way and live in isolation; sometimes seeking asylum in other countries where their human rights can be respected.

There are a number of LGBTI who do not go to any faith based institution because of homophobic sermons that are often preached by the clergy. There are some LGBTI who have been thrown out of their families and suffering in isolation because of their sexual orientation. The one million dollar question- Would Jesus discriminate?

The teachers in our high schools in Kenya have heavily punished students who are gay and lesbian due to ignorance about matters of human sexuality. There are some youth who have committed suicide because of realizing that they are gay or lesbian and cannot change their sexual orientation. These teachers need serious training sessions on matters of youth and sexuality. Other Sheep Kenya is dreaming to provide this forum, when resources allow.

We are grateful to UHAI-EASHRI based in Nairobi who awarded Other Sheep Kenya a grant of 2000 USD for the project of capacity building of clergy and laity on matters of LGBTI in Kenya and the purchase of a power point projector. This grant helped us run a total of three seminars/workshops in Kisumu and Nairobi for 50 participants. We also distributed researched literature on the Bible, science and sexual orientation. This grant has also helped us to build coalitions and collaborations with other LGBTI affirming organizations/individuals in the country. We have also intensified our LGBTI and PFLAG counseling programs despite the biggest challenge of lack of adequate infrastructure.

Other Sheep Kenya was also invited to attend the regional changing Faces Changing Spaces conference organized by UHAI-EASHRI for LGBTI organizations in Nairobi in September. I participated in the conference and facilitated the discussion on the challenges of HIV/AIDS and health issues in regard to LGBTI and commercial sex workers. We also had a golden opportunity to dialogue with both local and international donors. The programs officer of Ford Foundation in eastern Africa, Dr. Willy Mutunga recognized and applauded the excellent work being done by Other Sheep Kenya by using interesting biblical interpretation to address religious homophobia and transphobia. He wished this initiative could be further encouraged.

Michael Heflin and Anne Gathumbi from Open Society Institute held a meeting with Other Sheep Kenya national board on the possibility of partnership, networking and resource mobilization to address LGBTI special initiative in Kenya. The registration of Other Sheep Kenya is still being pursued by our lawyer with the government of Kenya. The lawyer has confirmed that despite the stumbling blocks the process has reached the birth pangs.

We are grateful for those friends who contributed 600 USD towards this official registration process. I have continued to write articles on human sexuality issues as the Reconciling Ministries Africa Author. This has encouraged me to interact with not only the reconciling United Methodist global community but the rest of the reconciling family of God. This interaction has been the best forum of learning and sharing our respective LGBTI ministry experiences.

We are also grateful to Rev. Steve Parelli for the excellent work he has been doing in the area of communication using e-news that reaches about 5000 people globally. This has highlighted our seminars and activities immensely with our friends and supporters. Interest groups are now freely discussing about the issue of sexual orientation in both print and electronic media in Kenya. Other Sheep Kenya played a key role in challenging the Uganda anti-homosexuality bill 2009 as discrimination and injustice based on sexual orientation. We appreciate the e-news mobilization effort that requested Dr. Douglas Carew, Vice Chancellor of Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of theology and other prominent African evangelical leaders to denounce the homophobic and biased article on homosexuality in the African bible commentary. Dr. Carew was my best hermeneutics professor when I was his student, and I hope he will respond appropriately.

The most challenging moment for OSK was when Peter Wanyama, our treasurer was fatally attacked in his neighborhood because of his sexual orientation. This matter was reported to the police but no serious follow-up and action has been taken. We are afraid that justice may not take place because of the homophobic security agents.

Kenya is at a critical moment in the construction of a democracy inclusive of diversity and based on respect for human rights through a new constitution that is still in draft. The draft is supposed to be debated for the next few months and views collected from the citizens for consideration for inclusion in the final constitution that shall be subjected to a national referendum. However, the issue of LGBT continues to draw negative reactions from those purportedly having the upper hand in the constitution making process by virtue of their position in Government and society. It is evident that majority of citizens happen to discriminate and reject LGBT because of their sexual orientation and this becomes business as usual.

My wife, Anne and I were awarded the finalist Voice in the Wilderness certificate by Reconciling Ministries Network in Colorado, USA. This was in recognition of working for the full inclusion of people in the church and social justice without any discrimination despite lack of support. We are grateful for this great honor. This is an award for all allies and LGBTI in Africa.

Other Sheep Kenya still hopes to seek financial support from our donor partners to accomplish the following objectives;

• To continue with the social justice project on capacity building and advocacy programs for clergy and laity to address homophobia and transphobia that is evil in the community.
• Establish Other Sheep Kenya resource center in Nairobi where people can access literature on human sexuality since education can transform the hearts and ears of people.
• To educate and train Guidance and Counseling teachers and lecturers on issues of youth and sexuality/ human rights.
• To endeavor to educate the LGBTI persons and PFLAG on the effects of substance/drug abuse and peace /justice and reconciliation in the midst of diversity in the community.
• To conduct HIV/AIDS and STDs prevention, care, treatment and support of infected and affected sexual minorities using a faith based approach in Kenya. Establish an LGBTI friendly medical center in Nairobi.
• Establish a fully functional office with remunerated local and international volunteer staff who will be motivated to work in these tough circumstances.
• To initiate a safe house for LGBTI who face both spiritual and physical violence from the society.
• A vehicle for transport to carry OSK workshop/seminar materials and local and international volunteers facilitating in our LGBTI projects in Kenya.
• Development of OSK strategic plan that will cover a period of ten years.

My deep appreciation also goes to OSK team that has sacrificed to work in a hostile environment to address the monster of homophobia and transphobia since in our nation homosexuality is a taboo. These are; Rev. Michael Kimindu- Chairman OSK, Peter Wanyama- Finance and Administration, Anne Baraza- Counseling Coordinator/PFLAG, Fabian Wangari- MSM HIV/AIDS Initiative Coordinator, Rev. Daniel Oigo- Western Kenya Coordinator, Gift Muli- Coast/Eastern Kenya Coordinator and Geoffrey Kamau- Central Kenya Coordinator.

Thank you all LGBTI persons, both in the closet and outed. Thank you for your prayers, support and encouragement.

I wish you a happy and reconciling new year 2010.

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The Rev. John Makokha is senior pastor of Riruta UMC in Nairobi, Kenya. He earned his B.Ed. Degree at the University of Nairobi and served as graduate teacher at Maji Mazuri High School. There, he taught Kiswahili and history and communications skills. In addition, he was a counselor, mentor, drama patron and chaired the school’s HIV/AIDS association. He was ordained as a minister in the Triumphant Pentecostal Church and served as a pastor in a Free Methodist Church. After earning an M.A. degree in Missions at Nairobi Evangelical School of Theology, he started Riruta United Methodist Church, the only Reconciling Ministry in Africa.