David Kuria, Kiambu Senatorial Campaign runner and former General Manager to GALCK, will now be presenting his report titled “Lessons Learned in Running for Political Office as an “Out” Candidate” on March 2nd in collaboration with a GKT training session. This extensive 41 page report is a culmination of reflections and lessons taken away from his campaign process last year.

This man’s continues to play an important role in the LGBTI community and his entrance into politics was in part meant to demonstrate that LGBT Kenyans can also be part of the political system and that their voices can be heard. As David Kuria states, the need for “an inside voice to deconstruct ‘LGBT Rights’ in a toothsome way both to the policy makers but also to the Kenyan public” has played a vital role in his motivations.

The event will be a gathering of David Kuria’s friends, colleagues, press and the community in hopes of examining the framework for activism, approaches to political interest’s, a look back over the campaign and the media’s response, among other topics. It will be held in collaboration with GKT, a GALCK member group, during one of their training sessions in early March. Further details will be provided closer to the date.

This is certainly an important event for the community and a prime opportunity to reflect on a past experience so as to make improvements for the future. We all have a lot to learn from it.

To look over the report beforehand, please click here.

GALCK Wins the UTUMISHI Award – LGBTI Community Organization Achievement Award for ‘service for and development of contemporary and creative measures for effective exercise of LGBTI persons’ at the Gay and Lesbian Awards

Saturday December 15^th, The Kenya Human Rights Commission and The National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission hosted the first ever Gay and Lesbian Awards of Kenya. The event brought together a diverse crowd of people gathered to honor key actors committed to promoting equality and social acceptance of LGBTIQs in Kenyan society. The evening, organized at Charter Hall, City Hall in Nairobi announced the winners of a variety of awards, one of which GALCK was honored to accept.

The award bestowed upon GALCK, the UTUMISHI – LGBTI Community Organization Achievement Award for ‘service for and development of contemporary and creative measures for effective exercise of LGBTI persons’, is a great privilege to the Coalition and public recognition of the work it has been doing. Members of GALCK and its member organizations were present to accept the award Saturday night and express their gratitude to the judging committee.

As GALCK proceeds through its transition process, such an event is a reminder of the importance of the work that is being done and motivation to keep it up and deliver even more services and support to the LGBTI community. By accepting this award, GALCK echoes the responsibility it has to the community and hopes to continue on the path of good-will work in the coming New Year.

Once again, GALCK would like to thank the community for showing faith in the coalition via nominations put in especially during this difficult time as we transition. We would also like to thank The Gay and Lesbian Awards of Kenya organizing team of National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, Kenya Human Rights Commission and Identity Kenya for the special event which is a great contribution to promoting human rights for LGBTIQ persons in Kenya.