Kenya to Lose Huge Funding if LGBTQ Practices Banned, Report Says

The potential consequences of implementing legislation against LGBTQ individuals in Kenya have been highlighted in a recent study.

The economic impact alone is estimated to be around Sh4.186 trillion if President William Ruto approves the proposed Family Protection Bill. Professor Fred Ogola, an economist and social scientist, emphasizes the various implications that would arise from anti-LGBTQ laws. These include concerns about investor sentiment, the strain on prison infrastructure and inmate population, government expenditure, and the need to update official documents. Additionally, passing the Linda Jamii Bill into law would result in a violation of Article 7 of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, to which Kenya has been a signatory since 1963.

Professor Ogola also notes that foreign donors, particularly the EU and USA, have set conditions for their support, with one of them being support for LGBTQ rights as a means of promoting equal protection and non-discrimination for all individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, and more. If the bill is enacted, Kenya should be prepared to lose approximately Sh4.186 trillion, as failing to meet certain conditions could result in the withholding of financial support. This amount includes tangible benefits to Kenya's economy and development from the US humanitarian assistance provided by the US and development aid from the European Union.

Additionally, funding from the EU for humanitarian purposes and disaster preparedness, as well as approval from the IMF for Kenya's development and efforts in climate change resilience, are at stake. The Professor explains that these findings were determined by analyzing economic indicators such as employment, capital, labour force, population, and international trade.