The country in East Africa has missed an opportunity to gain a foothold in the modern age. The High Court declared last Friday that the law against homosexuality not unconstitutional. Sections 162 a) and c), and 165 of the Penal Code make it a crime punishable by up to 14 years in prison to “have carnal knowledge against the order of nature”.

The laws against homosexuality were introduced over 100 years ago by British colonial rule, but Kenya’s new constitution dates back to 2010. If the verdict had been different, homosexuality in Kenya could even have been made legal. Human rights organisations are deeply dissatisfied. The verdict is a missed opportunity the country’s legislation and revoke remainers of the colonial order.

Kenya ranked 146th in the Spartacus Gay Travel Index 2019, among other countries, such as Iraq and Brunei. Kenya’s neighboring states Uganda and Somalia polled even worse: While Uganda ranked 179th, Somalia ranked 196th. This makes Somalia the second most hostile country in the world for homosexuals – right after Chechnya.

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