Amka Blogs
Joint Statement: Discrimination of Deaf Persons on the Issuance and Renewal of Driving Licenses
We, the undersigned organizations committed to the full and equal enjoyment of human rights by persons with disability, express our deep concern over the recent trend and practice of denying deaf persons the issuance and renewal of driving licenses and provisional driving licenses by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA). We […]
MODERN SLAVERY: THE PROBLEM IS RIGHT UNDER OUR NOSES.
The universal definition of slavery is the holding of individuals against their will for forced labor and with restricted liberty. Many at times we hear of the term slavery and immediately click back to the 16 th century when our ancestors were forcefully taken, sold and transported across the Atlantic to work in the west. […]
SILENCING TOXICITY: Unmasking the Link Between Toxic Masculinity, Femicide and a Call for Transformation in Kenya
In recent times, Kenya has witnessed a disturbing surge in femicide, with women falling victim to heinous acts of violence. This alarming trend demands a critical examination of the root causes behind such acts, revealing a deeply ingrained issue: toxic masculinity. Drawing insights from global examples, including Mexico and Austria, and using the lens of […]
A Vehicle of Violence: The Family Protection Bill 2023 and Transgender Women
Colonial legacies still majorly influence Kenya’s social and legal culture. Even where our Constitution guarantees equality and non-discrimination for all persons, transphobia remains an unfortunate reality. In this environment, trans people particularly trans women are often vulnerable to all forms of violence. This is made worse by a growing wave of anti-gender and anti-rights movement […]
Silent battles, resounding strength: the lives of transgender refugees in Kenya
Kakuma and Kalobeyei refugee camps, where around 250-300 self-declared LGBTQI+ asylum seekers and refugees live (Photo: Axel Fassio/CIFOR-ICRAF, via Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) Around two billion people around the world are impacted by fragility, conflict, or violence – from the war in Ukraine and Russia, the violent struggles between Palestine and Israel, to the political upheavals in West […]
FROM PROSECUTION TO PROTECTION: THE DECRIMINALIZATION OF SEX WORK IN KENYA
In the heart of Nairobi, where the city’s rhythms merge with the vibrant pulse of its inhabitants, lies a story of transformation and empowerment. Recently, the National Committee on Criminal Justice Reforms (NCCJR) presented the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill, 2023 to the Parliament. Among others, the Bill boldly advocates for the deletion of sections 153, […]