Kenya to Launch Homosexual Census

Kenya is planning to enumerate its gay population in an effort to fight HIV/AIDS, despite homosexual activity being illegal in the country, a senior health official said recently on BBC's "Network Africa." Kenyan gays do not have needed information about HIV and how it is prevented, said Nicholas Muraguri, head of the National AIDS/STD Control Program (NASCOP).

Experts, however, predict many gay people will be reluctant to self-identify, since homosexual activity can carry a 14-year jail sentence. Muraguri acknowledged that an accurate census will be difficult, but he said the effort is necessary for targeting interventions such as condoms. In the survey, which is scheduled to begin in June, gay men will be asked to identify each other, and officials will conduct HIV tests and provide safe-sex information, he said.

"Kenyans cannot actually afford to say that the gay community are isolated somewhere in the corner -- they are part of our lives," Muraguri said. "This group must be reached with information and services so they know how to protect themselves from getting infected."

Gay Kenyans have told the BBC that they would be willing to be counted in the census if their identities were protected.

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