Faith in Dialogue: Religious Leaders Forums on Inclusion – Migori, Kisumu, and Homabay (2023)
In 2023, at the height of rising anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric in Kenya, AYAN Kenya recognized the urgent need to engage faith leaders—who play a powerful role in shaping public opinion, cultural norms, and community practices. With support from Strategic Issues and Research Issues (SIRI), AYAN Kenya organized three Religious Leaders Forums across Migori, Kisumu, and Homabay Counties.
These forums created safe, open spaces for dialogue with influential religious leaders to address misconceptions, reduce stigma, and promote tolerance, empathy, and respect for human rights in the context of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Our Approach
Faith-Based Dialogues: Facilitated structured conversations on SRHR, human rights, and inclusion within religious contexts.
Engagement Across Counties: Brought together diverse religious leaders from Christian, Muslim, and traditional faith backgrounds across Migori, Kisumu, and Homabay.
Myth-Busting and Evidence Sharing: Addressed harmful narratives around LGBTQ+ communities, replacing them with factual, rights-based perspectives.
Bridge-Building: Encouraged leaders to view inclusion not as a threat to faith, but as a pathway to compassion and justice for all community members.
Key Highlights (2023)
3 Religious Leaders Forums Held: One each in Migori, Kisumu, and Homabay.
Dozens of Leaders Engaged: Strengthened relationships with influential voices who shape community values.
Shifting Narratives: Created opportunities for leaders to reflect, ask questions, and commit to fostering more inclusive and respectful messaging in their congregations.
Reducing Harm: Laid the groundwork for mitigating stigma, discrimination, and violence fueled by misinformation and religious misinterpretation.
Why This Project Matters
Religious leaders are often at the center of community dialogue, wielding influence that can either reinforce stigma or drive change. The Faith in Dialogue Forums showed that engagement, not avoidance, is the way forward—equipping faith leaders with the knowledge, tools, and empathy needed to stand against hate and support inclusion.
By confronting the intersection of faith, sexuality, and human rights, AYAN Kenya advanced its mission of creating an enabling environment for all, ensuring that LGBTQ+ individuals, women, and young people in Kenya can live free from stigma and violence.