Identity
CONTRIBUTORS
NICHOLAS OTIENO’s journey of selfdiscovery has taken him from his home village in Kenya to a monastery to the midst of South African politics to the Yale Divinity School. A noted Kenyan philosopher, his search for those answers has led him to a Benedictine monastery; stirred him to political activism in Africa and now runs CRIC Africa, an innovative new organization for social change and justice. He has authored several books and multiple publications
Drug abuse is a prevalent vice in the Coastal town of Malindi. So, when UMRA OMAR travelled there to cover stories of women whose lives were impacted by the use of heroin, she discovered that nothing was being done to help the victims in dealing with the abuse. She met and interacted with women who sold their bodies to get drugs, exposing themselves to health risks and mental anguish. Umra is passionate for human rights, women liberation and freedom.
‘More than one in every 2000 people are born with some sort of intersex condition, but you would never know it’ says BARBRA WANGARE in her article this month that tries to de-mystify those persons who are referred to as intersex whom she has particularly met and interacted with. Her piece recalls the case of RM v/s State who petitioned the Court of Appeal for a third gender to be recognized.
What do you get when you cross cross-dressing Ask Harriet and ever-so-wise but bitchy Aunty Betty? AL GREY is the gay men’s answer to the many Arcus Foundation Correspondent Aunty Agony columns only this in Kenya, MELISSA WAINA- time his audience and questions INA traverses Kenya to bring are from the gay community. you up to date news on the He doses out advice with a LGBT and sex work community sense of humor and ’keeping it on themes such as health, human real’ attitude on how to deal rights, media, politics and enviwith life, love, sex, relationship ronment. and break-ups. Page 4
An advocate of the High Court in Kenya, MONICA MBARU, is a noted human rights lawyer, author and advocate with vast experience in taking on cases regarding LGBT in Kenya. Described as ‘well-learned’ ‘approachable’ and ‘affable’ Monica will answer our readers questions on LGBT and the law, marriage, inheritance and other aspects. She sees in the new Bill of Rights of the Constitution of Kenya a strong case to advocate for marriage equality, nondiscrimination and protection of minorities.
RELIC CHEDY is a hidden passion writer and a poet with Young, fresh, urbanite intense ability in the world of and with a penchant for romance. His writings often censaying it as it is, COLE ter on male eroticism, sex and MUTAHI is a legal mind. love. His signature poems, short He is also a good purand graphic, reveal his free spirit veyor of minds having and aim to have the readers apstudied psychology. He preciate eroticism as an expreswrites on gay men, well sion that is innately human. He being and mental wellstudies and lives in Nairobi. ness. He is a life coach and motivation speaker.