As the
world marked the United Nations International Day of Families, a diverse
coalition of citizens in the country came together with a unified message that families
need protection, not propaganda.
In a press
statement released on Wednesday, grassroots voices from across the country
decried what they termed as rising threats to the dignity, security, and
diversity of families in Kenya.
The
meeting was convened at the Boma Hotel in Nairobi by the Coalition of Grassroots
Human Rights Defenders.
The
coalition called for urgent action to address the real needs of families.
The statement, titled “Kenyan Families Deserve Protection, Not Propaganda,”
warned against the growing influence of some organisations which they said are fueling
exclusion and pushing for intolerant narratives about what constitutes a family
in Kenya.
The groups,
according to the statement, have sought to impose narrow definitions of family,
undermining the nation’s rich tapestry of family structures and violating
constitutional values.
“These
groups push for exclusionary laws and promote foreign-backed agendas rooted in
control, not protection,” the statement read.
“Their
rhetoric fuels fear, turning homes into battlegrounds where women and girls are
silenced, queer children are rejected, and loved ones are cast as enemies for
being different.”
Rather than
addressing Kenya’s urgent and widespread challenges such as poverty,
corruption, violence, and climate-related crises, the groups are focusing on
what the statement calls “phantom threats.”
The signatories argue that this
redirection of attention and policy energy is harmful and deliberately
divisive.
“This is
not preserving family, it is tearing it apart,” the statement added.
Quoting Article 45 of the Constitution of Kenya, the coalition noted that the
family is the fundamental unit of society, and that all families, regardless of
their composition, deserve dignity and protection.
They
highlighted a broad and inclusive definition of family that reflects Kenyan
reality.
“single mothers, polygamous fathers, sex worker parents, children born
through surrogates, orphaned homesteads, and many more who have increasingly
been excluded from social protection,” they said.
What
matters most, the statement emphasised, is not the form a family takes, but the
love, care, and communal responsibility that binds its members.
“True
Kenyan family values are rooted in compassion, not exclusion,” the statement
read.
One of the most alarming issues raised in the press statement is the widespread
discrimination facing LGBTQ+ individuals and others who don’t conform to
narrowly defined social norms.
The coalition cited research from the African
Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), which revealed that 71 per cent of
LGBTQ+ individuals in Kenya have experienced some form of discrimination or
bias based on their sexual and gender identities.
“This level
of exclusion cannot be ignored. We call for an end to
stigma and discrimination against those living with HIV, against our LGBTQ
family members, and against any group that some try to label as outsiders.”
Discrimination,
the signatories warned, weakens family bonds and poisons communities. A family,
they argue, should be a haven where all members feel safe, loved, and
respected.
Rather than divisive rhetoric and exclusionary policies, Kenyan families are
calling for meaningful support to overcome the real challenges they face.
Economic
security remains at the heart of family well-being. With the cost of living
continuing to rise, many families are struggling to survive.
The
coalition called for job creation, equal opportunities for women and youth, and
stronger social safety nets.
“No Kenyan family should be driven into
destitution or hunger. Economic justice is a family value,” the statement said.
Homes
should be safe havens, not sites of fear. The statement stressed the importance
of ending domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual violence.
Laws
protecting women, children, and men must be enforced and backed by real
investment in survivor shelters and services.
“Safety for all family members
will allow our communities to flourish,” the statement added.
Respect for
bodily autonomy was another critical issue raised. The signatories demanded an
end to practices that harm or control women and girls, such as female genital mutilation,
child marriage, and marital rape, and called for access to reproductive
healthcare.
They also
emphasised that queer and transgender individuals must have the right to live
with dignity and autonomy.
“Upholding personal dignity and choice strengthens
the family unit,” it said.
The
statement highlighted the need for inclusive education that ensures girls are
not forced out of school due to pregnancy, and where no child is bullied or
excluded for being “different.”
It also
called for comprehensive sexuality and life-skills education that teaches young
people about consent, safety, and bodily respect.
“We need
age-appropriate, comprehensive sexuality education so young people grow up
informed… and can report when they detect predators,” the statement read.
Access to
healthcare remains another urgent issue. Many Kenyan families face steep
medical costs or lack nearby clinics.
The coalition called for real investment in public health systems, including
maternal care, vaccinations, nutrition, and mental health services.
They also
stressed the need to operationalise the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF/SHA)
to ensure universal healthcare access, especially in rural and low-income
areas. “Healthcare isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity,” it said.
The
statement reaffirmed the need to end all forms of discrimination within and
beyond the family unit.
No person,
they argued, should be excluded or rejected because of their gender, tribe,
religion, disability, or sexual orientation.
“When we embrace each other’s
differences, our family bonds grow stronger,” they said in the statement.
The
statement called for action by national leaders, religious figures, and Kenyan
communities at large.
The
coalition urged President William Ruto and all elected officials to uphold the
Constitution by protecting every family, not just a select few.
That means
rejecting any proposed laws or policies that discriminate based on identity or
family structure.
They called
on the government to prioritise the needs of families through meaningful social
investment. Protection, they said, should not just be about rhetoric but about
real support, especially during times of crisis such as floods, droughts, and
economic hardship.
Religious
and community leaders were urged to promote compassion over exclusion. The
coalition called on spiritual and cultural figures to foster honest
conversations about family diversity, inclusion, and equality.
“Stop using
the family as a weapon to foment hate. Let’s have open
conversations in our churches, mosques, temples, schools, and homes about
acceptance, equality, and understanding,” they demanded.