Gay Ugandans seek refuge in Kenyan safe houses

(27 May 2023)
KENYA LGBTQ

SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS

RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

LENGTH: 3:52

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nakuru County, Kenya - 12 May 2023

1. Various of Terry and Kiuna (not real names for security reasons, both Ugandan gay men) walking to a shop in the neighbourhood that hosts the Trans Rescue safehouse in Nakuru County
2. Various of Terry and Kiuna buying from a local shop and interacting with the shop owner, the only shop that sells to them in the neighbourhood
3. Various of Terry and Kiuna walking home
4. Various of Terry in his room inside the safehouse, dancing. Anne Ogborn, Director of Trans Rescue, an organization that rescues LGBTQ people from homophobic areas, is also present
5. Various of Terry and Ogborn watching video on phone of Terry's friend being arrested by Ugandan police
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Terry (not real name), gay Ugandan national:
"I was arrested by the Ugandan police. We had a meeting somewhere at a certain hotel, but the building was surrounded by the police. So we were taken to the police (meaning police station), then later on they released us. So the police started stressing us. That is why we scattered ourselves. Some of us went to Kenya, some of them I do not know the place where they are right now."

7. Various of Anne Ogborn and Terry
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Anne Ogborn, Director, Trans Rescue:
"In 67 countries it is illegal to be homosexual and our work is to get people from these places to places that are of relative safety. Being trans in particular is not safe anywhere in the world."

9. Pharis Gitau, neighbour and taxi driver, walking to car
10. SOUNDBITE (Swahili) Pharis Gitau, neighbour and taxi driver:
"We have lived with these people well. I cannot see the problem with them. We have lived well. I usually carry them in my taxi and I don't see any problem with them. So I would like them to live like this. I do not see the reason why people are against them. We should live with them harmoniously because we help each other in life. I do not know about politics but I know these are good people and we live with them well."

11. Various of Tom Nyameta walking in neighbourhood
12. SOUNDBITE (Swahili) Tom Nyameta, neighbour:
"In our area we have rental houses and there are some people who came from abroad and were given a rental house here. But according to word on the street what they are doing here is not nice. So we were seeking as villagers, it is not good for them to do it here. They can go back to their home and do those things there because we have children and our parents here and we have never heard of such a thing in Kenya."

13. Wide of Tom Nyameta walking in the village
STORYLINE:
LEADIN:

Gay Ugandans are fleeing to Kenya to escape persecution in their home country.

Uganda's parliament is considering legislation that would see harsh jail sentences for gay people.

STORYLINE:

Terry and Kiuna - not their real names - are heading to the local shop.

They want to buy a few basic supplies, like drinks and snacks, and this is the only place that will serve them.

That's because these young men are gay.

They rarely venture outside for fear of reactions from local people.

But living here in Kenya's Nakuru County is better than being back home.

They are from Uganda and fled here in fear for their lives.

Uganda is considering legislation which would see gay people given harsh sentences, including long jail terms.

Terry says he has already faced persecution because of his sexuality in his country.



It's an experience he has been through himself.













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