Kenya: Gays, Sex Workers Join Fight Against HIV/Aids

AS Kenya joins the rest of the world tomorrow in commemorating the annual World Aids Day, an occasion specially set aside to celebrate the achievements made in combating the deadly viral disease, a lot is still at stake if the zero infection target is to be realised.

While a lot has been done in ensuring access to life-prolonging drugs, HIV/Aids is yet to be wholly demystified to allow patients lead a dignified life, devoid of stigma.

Love or hate them, the gay and lesbian population is here to stay, and is part of the community that has continued to experience the wrath of a conservative society that is still grappling with the very thought.

“Why do we say pamoja tuangamize ukimwi (together let us eradicate HIV/Aids) and yet you are busy leaving out such a crucial group that is spreading this disease among people’s sons and even husbands,” poses John Mathenge, the national co-ordinator of the Kenya Sex Workers Alliance (KeSWA), a non-governmental organisation whose location cannot be disclosed for what Mathenge terms as security threat.

“It is not right to condemn homosexuals, especially if we want to get to zero status,” Mathenge says.

UNAIDS is expressing optimism that 2013 will create the opportunity for the realisation of the beginning of the end of Aids, as more HIV positive personnel continue to be put on treatment, while efforts are being made to prevent mother-to-child transmission rates.

Back home, a minority group that has suffered in silence due to a harsh cultural environment that is more rigid to what it views as foreign concepts has broken ranks with the old order and is now vocal over what it wants to see being done.

Moving with speed to ensure equal enjoyment of the goodies that have come with the implementation of the new constitution, KeSWA is finalising tomorrow’s plans of engaging in clean up campaigns, among other celebrations, in solidarity with other patients and victims.

Though Mathenge has remained cautious and tight-lipped on the exact venue for his group’s activities, he says more people are beginning to gain courage to be seen in public and declare their sexual orientation.