Violent attack against LGBTIQ+ rights defender Kenneth Thethe
On 13 August 2023, human rights defender Kenneth Thethe was verbally and physically attacked near his home by three unknown men in Kiganjo, in the town of Thika, Kiambu County. The human rights defender was alone at the time of the attack.
Kenneth Thethe is a human rights defender working on the rights of LGBTIQ+ people in his community. He is the founder and executive director of Grassroots Transitional House, Kenya (GTH-Kenya). A community-driven organisation created to grant safety, protection and assistance to LGBTIQ+ individuals and defenders living in Mount Kenya region. The organisation also provides well-being support to LGBTIQ+ individuals that were victims of discrimination, stigma and who fear violence due to their gender identity. The work of the human rights defender Kenneth Thethe in the organisaton focuses on implementing mechanisms that will tackle gender-base violence against LGBTIQ+ people in his community and enable an environment where LGBTIQ+ community feel accepted and supported.
On 13 August 2023, human rights defender Kenneth Thethe was verbally and physically attacked near his home by three unknown men in Kiganjo, in the town of Thika, Kiambu County. The human rights defender was alone at the time of the attack.
Kenneth Thethe is a human rights defender working on the rights of LGBTIQ+ people in his community. He is the founder and executive director of Grassroots Transitional House, Kenya (GTH-Kenya). A community-driven organisation created to grant safety, protection and assistance to LGBTIQ+ individuals and defenders living in Mount Kenya region. The organisation also provides well-being support to LGBTIQ+ individuals that were victims of discrimination, stigma and who fear violence due to their gender identity. The work of the human rights defender Kenneth Thethe in the organisaton focuses on implementing mechanisms that will tackle gender-base violence against LGBTIQ+ people in his community and enable an environment where LGBTIQ+ community feel accepted and supported.
On 13 August 2023, human rights defender Kenneth Thethe was verbally and physically attacked near his home, while he was alone, by three unidentified men in Kiganjo in the town of Thika, Kiambu County. The individuals seemed to be familiar with the human rights defender identity. The aggressors called Kenneth Thethe by his first name, which also made him believe that the men were aware of his advocacy work for LGBTIQ+ rights. As a result of the attack, the human rights defender suffered from numerous bruises and lacerations.
Front Line Defenders strongly condemns the attack against human rights defender Kenneth Thete. Front Line Defenders believes the attack could be connected to his work in defense of LGBTIQ+ rights in Kenya. Front Line Defenders expresses further concern at the increased violence, criminalisation, discrimination and LGBTIQ+ phobia conducted against LGBTIQ+ defenders in Kenya. Front Line Defenders strongly condemns such violence and calls on the Kenyan authorities to hold those responsible of the threats, harrassment and physical attacks accountable, and protect the safety and well-being of all human rights defenders, particularly those working for the rights of LGBTIQ+ people.
