Transgender Education & Advocacy

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Fair Administrative Action: Challenges and Recommendations in the Transgender Community in Kenya

The Right to Fair Administrative Action Among Transgender Kenyans: Challenges and Recommendations.

By Audrey Mbugua ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

On the 26^th of March 2013, I visited the Immigration Offices in Nyayo House to change my name and gender marker in my passport. In 2012, I had legally added the name Audrey to Mbugua Ithibu using a deed poll and gazette notice. On the 19^th March 2013 I had applied for an addition of name in my national identity card at the Makadara District Registrar of Persons Offices, reason being I wanted a name that would fit my gender identity and expression. Gender Identity is ones self awareness as male or female and is not related to one’s anatomical sex – it is what mental health care providers refer to as an individual’s psychological sex. For those who have studied medical sciences, you will recall the three determinants of sex in humans are: chromosomes, genitals and core gender identity?

I had taken the time to write a letter articulating the two requests: change of my name and the removal of the M sex mark on my passport:

“The second request is unrelated to the first. I kindly request that you remove the M gender marker in my passport as it is a major impediment in my social and occupational functioning. This significantly compromises my security in airports, bank in addition to raising suspicion and embarrassment……. I simply need a document that is in line with my gender identity and gender presentation.”

I waxed on in the letter, knowing that I was sailing through unchartered waters but remembering a kikuyu proverb my grandmother uses when reminding me that we all have what it takes to accomplish our goals i.e. guoya muingi uturagia okia mucii (too much cowardice keeps poverty at home) I decided to give it a try.

Interrogating Gender Based Oppression Among Transgender People in Kenya

Interrogating Gender Based Oppression Among Transgender People and the Transphobic Public Service

By Audrey Mbugua

On the 27^th of August 2010, Kenyans promulgated the Constitution 2010 destining the 1969 piece into the dustbins of the Kenyan history. Our Constitution 2010 is regarded as radically progressive as it provides a wide democratic space, tames the Executive as well as providing an array of provisions (in Chapter Four) that guarantee the respect of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Kenyans. But, that’s where the fairy tale ends – the full implementation of this Constitution remains a precarious process in need of vigilance and the mettle to stand up and say no to dinosaurs within the Kenya’s public service. We have a gang in public service that is hell bent on turning our Constitution into a list of suggestions.

Deconstructing Homonormative Behavior

Deconstructing Homonormativity

Colossal Pricks: Homonormativity, Guinea Pigs, Gold Rush and Uncle Toms

By Audrey Mbugua (Programs Manager, Transgender Education & Advocacy. Send your comments or concerns to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

On the 1^st of March 2013, I went through an ordeal that made me wonder how civility and sobriety are least utilized when the group mentality bug infects a particular community. I was in a matatu going home after a busy day in the office. My home is in the Kiambu County 20 kilometers north of the Nairobi County. The Kiambu County is a bastion for Hon. Raila’s arch rival and presidential candidate Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta. On reaching Kiambu town, a shabby young man threw a leaflet inside our matatu. The leaflet was one of the many smear campaigns disparaging Hon. Raila’s CORD Alliance and his running mate, Hon. Kalonzo Musyoka. There was the title “Marriage of Convenience” and there was a photo of a newly wedded couple; the groom was Hon. Raila Odinga and the bride was Hon. Kalonzo - Hon. Kalonzo’s face was juxtaposed on a lady’s face.

A middle aged man in the matatu I was traveling in picked the leaflet and passed it to the passenger seating next to him and then made a spiteful remark about the Luo community. When the leaflet landed on my lap I took it and threw it on the floor. This annoyed the middle aged man and some small minded people who were getting entertained by that gibberish. The middle aged man asked me what it was that I was doing. I told him that I am not the kind of person who gets entertained by rubbish. The passenger seating next to me collected the leaflet from the floor and passed it on to the rest of the passengers. She engaged me in small talk before asking me who between Raila and Uhuru I was supporting. I retorted with “none of the above”. She said that we “Kikuyus must support Uhuru the same way Luo’s were supporting Raila”. She then advised me to be careful when airing my political views since there were diehard Uhuru’s supporters who might not tolerate my political views. To her and her ilk, it was that time in Kenya’s history whereby people from an ethnic block miraculously had homogenous political thoughts and acted as voting robots for their ethnic kingpin. I don’t know where these diehards get the moral authority to come and punish contrarians and free thinkers like me into submission. But, one thing I know is that there are always elements out there who will engage in nefarious activities to intimidate people and force them into supporting certain people or agenda. It is about using other people as pawns for their wars with their rivals.

This is not a political commentary but a conscious raising article about a ubiquitous mentality and practice that instill homosexuality as a norm to the transgender community. But, let me define a number of terms for the sake of clarity: