Police Brutality, Societal Stigma, and the Struggle for Justice Among Gay Kenyan Youths
By John Muthoga Wambugu In Kenya, the question of justice for LGBTQ individuals—particularly gay youths—sits at the intersection of law enforcement practices, societal attitudes, and human rights protections. While the Constitution of Kenya guarantees equality, dignity, and freedom from discrimination, many young LGBTQ persons continue to report experiences that suggest a gap between constitutional ideals and lived reality. This gap is most visible in how some individuals interact with society at large and, in certain cases, with law enforcement institutions. Police institutions are expected to serve as neutral protectors of all citizens. However, human rights organizations and advocacy groups have repeatedly raised concerns that marginalized groups, including LGBTQ youths, may not always experience equal treatment when seeking police assistance. These concerns are not necessarily universal or institutionalised across all police officers, but they emerge in patterns reported by victims...