The Politics of Social (in) Exclusion of LGBTQ+ People in Kenya: A Political Economy Analysis

Published On: July 8, 2025
Technical Reports
Health and Wellbeing, Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (SRMNCAH)

Social exclusion is defined as the limitation or non-realization of citizens’ economic, social, and political rights. In Kenya, sexual and gender minorities—particularly lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and other sexually and gender diverse (LGBTQ+) people—experience stigma, discrimination, and violation of their human rights due to ambiguous state policies and laws and widespread societal rejection and pressures. Social exclusion is characterized as the limitation or non-realization of a citizen’s economic, social, and political rights. Institutionalized cultures and practices, societal structures, and norms of discrimination and stigma play a key role in the marginalization of LGBTQ+ people. Given the complexities around social exclusion and its various mechanisms in practice, exploring the context of exclusion (and processes of inclusion) is critical to unlocking the implications of social exclusion and inclusion and the interests, power dynamics, decision-making, and practices of key actors influencing social exclusion and inclusion of LGBTQ+ individuals.