A report by London-based Open for Business, a coalition of global companies has revealed that Kenya loses between KSh 18 billion (US$ 180 million) and KSh 130 billion (US$ 1.3 billion) annually as a result of discriminating against members of the LGBT community.
The report argues that if Kenya accepted the community to thrive the country would be at a much better place economically if it advocated for LGBT inclusion as an important ingredient for economic growth.
The report claimed Kenya’s homophobia against gays and lesbians negatively affected the country’s economy in different ways.
“Discriminating against members of the LGBT community led to loss of up to KSh 130 billion annually due to poor health outcomes, reduced tourism and lower productivity,” the London-headquartered Open for Business researchers noted.
The researchers added whereas homophobia hurt the Kenyan economy in a number of ways, LGBT inclusion could lead to increased productivity and revenue.
“An increased level of LGBT inclusion can benefit Kenya’s cities, companies and tech sector where LGBT community members can help create innovative ecosystems necessary for start-ups,” the report indicated.
The report was released hot on the heels of intensified fight for the rights of LGBT in Kenya with the High Court expected to make a landmark ruling on the weighty matter. The court was expected to give a ruling on the the legality and illegality of same sex marriage in the country on February 22, 2019.
However, a three-judge bench comprising Justices Roselyne Aburili, John Mativo and Chacha Mwita pushed forward the judgment to May 24, 2019, citing a busy schedule. The petition was filed by director of National Gay and Lesbian Rights Commission (NGLRC) Eric Gitari who was seeking to have Sections 162 and 165 of the Penal Code which criminalises same sex marriages scraped. The Kenyan law bans same sex unions while the society at large abhors such unions.
