A Report of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey in Kenya (NTDS)-A Baseline Study of Transgender Persons in Kenya: Life experiences and Access to Health Services

Abstract

The study contained the underpinnings on protection issues against violence and discrimination. The theme of this report deconstructs how discriminatory laws and sociocultural norms continue to marginalize and exclude intersex and gender-diverse persons. The report established that they are excluded from education, healthcare, housing, employment and occupation and other sectors giving rise to a host of other problems in a context where access to economic, social and cultural rights is hampered resulting in poverty and exclusion. They have a lower social-economic status due to the limiting access to assets that are essential to enjoy the full range of human rights. A glance at these issues quickly affirms the intersectionality of all human rights grounded in the firm commitment of leaving no one behind under the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development Goals. This report offers a window opportunity through which to gauge the character and scale of anti- discrimination data and the linkage with root causes, dialogue, consultation and cooperation with state and non-state actors, including implementation of international instruments, with identification of good practices and gaps. National and county governments have a fundamental responsibility to respect, protect and promote the human rights of transgender people in Kenya by taking action to ensure timely access to appropriate primary health care in public-funded health programs. There is need of development of guidelines on achieving universal access to acceptable, competent, appropriate, and affordable care. Moreover, there is the need of taking action to ensure laws, policies, programmes and procedures do not discriminate against transgender people through an effective and accessible legal and services framework. In addition, there is the need of taking action to allow individuals change their legal name and gender, including the gender markers on official documents, put in place quick, accessible and transparent procedures aimed at providing transgender people with official national documents. There is the need of taking action to ensure equal protection under the law, adopting positive legislative, judicial, administrative, educative, and other appropriate measures to protect these rights. Also, it is recommended there is the need to ensure freedom from cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment of transgender people. Keywords: Transgender Persons, Life experiences, Access to Health Services, Kenya