Gay Man Burnt in Homophobic Attack in Kenya Dies in the Hospital

Gay Man Burnt in Homophobic Attack in Kenya Dies in the Hospital

A Ugandan man who sustained serious burn injuries in a homophobic attack at Kakuma Refugee Camp in northern Kenya has died.

Chriton ‘Trinidad’ Atuhwera passed away on Monday at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) where he had been admitted for nearly a month following the March 15th attack.

“We offer our deepest condolences to his family and friends. Chriton’s death was preventable,” Amnesty International Executive Director Irungu Houghton said in a statement.

The 22-year-old fled to Kenya from Uganda after he was outed as a member of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) community. At the time, Chriton was pursuing a course in Business Administration at a Ugandan university.

Chriton and a colleague named Jordan were burnt after a Molotov cocktail was lobbed into Block 13 at the refugee camp, which houses members of the LGBTQ community. 

The two received first aid at Clinic Six within the camp before they were ferried to Lodwar Hospital, 123 kilometers away. 

“They then waited a further two days before our demands to have them airlifted to a suitable hospital in Nairobi were heard,” says the Black LGBTQ Migrant Project (BLMP).

The two were later flown to KNH in Nairobi, where it was established that Chriton had other health conditions for which he was also receiving treatment.

“Unfortunately, his condition deteriorated and, despite the medical team’s best efforts, he passed away,” said Fathiaa Abdalla, UNHCR’s Representative in Kenya. 

She added: “We urge the Kenyan authorities to accelerate their investigation into the alleged attack and hold those responsible to account.” 

Amnesty International says UNHCR and the government should be held accountable for the attack on Chriton and his friend.

“Until the killers of Chriton ‘Trinidad’ Atuhwera have been placed in a court of law and camp security measures improve, both the government of Kenya and UNHCR must continue to be held accountable for the safety lapse that has claimed his life,” said Houghton.

He added: “We salute Kenya’s commitment to be a sanctuary country for all regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity.”

His body is set to be repatriated back to Uganda for burial.
 

Comments

Maxiley (not verified)     Wed, 04/14/2021 @ 11:18am

Very sad indeed. He did not commit any crime I know,except that he is gay.I guess to some its acrime.Yes I get it that human beings view anybody"different" who is not like them with suspicion,superstitions,and ignorance.But in this day and age to kill someone because is gay is unforgivable.
I still maintain that being gay is not a choice.How can you even think of choosing to be gay,especially in Africa,knowing it could lead to this kind of treatment?.We still have alot to understand about human behavior. We can only do that by opening our minds to ideas that challenge our long held beliefs,and ideas.
Unfortunately as science continues to dispel superstitions, beliefs,and harmful traditions,we still are slow to embrace it.This cannot be good.Its even sad that some reject science simply because it "proves" them wrong.Good example is the issue of IQ, despite science telling us that Mzungu is not inherently smarter than mwafrika, some segments of our human societies dispel this finding...( unfortunately some are apparently given reasons to)
Iam heterosexual,I did not chose to be one.Science tells us that gender /sex is on a spectrum.Both ends having"extremes",and the rest of us on a continuum in between. Iam comfortable with that.And just because Iam heterosexual,why should I assume that Joe-six-Pac is just as heterosexual as me?We have to acknowledge that there is alot to learn about this animal the "homosapien".Or should I say that he/she has alot to learn about him/her self.Live,and let live sexually that is.

Maxiley (not verified)     Wed, 04/14/2021 @ 12:31pm

Wow,I thought South Africa was gay friendly,and tolerant... ahuman being,in south africa was mutilated,and buried for having homosexual tendencies. This has indeed been a horrific week ,or should I say deadly for homosexuals in Africa.
With all the problems we have of hunger,unemployment,xenophobia,race, corruption,thievery,murder,scamming,we focus our attention on the least destructive of all.We certainly have our priorities our of order...

Vega (not verified)     Sat, 04/17/2021 @ 05:54pm

In reply to by Maxiley (not verified)

I accept that responsibility with great honor and admiration for a good friend! You got to tell these goat-ropers the real truth to bring down their dirty mouth! I will send you the bill once I write the consult for you though!

Builder (not verified)     Wed, 04/14/2021 @ 11:33pm

In reply to by Maxiley (not verified)

Least destructive it is until God destroyed Sodom n Gomorrah bc of it. Lol. Suicide rate among homo is 10x the rest. A les couple with 6 kids drive into a body of water and drowned everybody.

Kale (not verified)     Wed, 04/14/2021 @ 02:45pm

Gay people are human beings, created in the image of God. It’s evil to terrorize them for what they are. Live and let live; mind your own business. They are our children, brothers and sisters.

Mkenya halisi (not verified)     Wed, 04/14/2021 @ 04:26pm

Let it be a big lesson to others who r practicing this west immoral demonic satanic sewage behaviour.African has refused to entertain that Martin king nonsense.

Mkenya halisi (not verified)     Wed, 04/14/2021 @ 04:27pm

Let it be a big lesson to others who r practicing this west immoral demonic satanic sewage behaviour.African has refused to entertain that nonsense

Builder (not verified)     Wed, 04/14/2021 @ 06:25pm

After being fed GMO and other chemicals containing oestrogen : flax, soy, veg oils, herbicides etc. Plus an aggressive LGBT campaign, all adds up to twisting DNA back to Sodom era. This can be avoided and lives saved. Africa isn't structurally built for outlier lifestyles.

Miky Samu (not verified)     Wed, 04/14/2021 @ 06:41pm

I am not gay, but stand with gay people...whether one is born gay or acquires this state...nothing justifies the killing of another human being....only God has a right to do so. Gays are human beings and they deserve to be treated as such period.

Rogers (not verified)     Sat, 04/17/2021 @ 08:02am

In reply to by BBIbbi (not verified)

Have you all noticed that people who are supposed to show Godly love because they claim to know God are the biggest haters here? God is love to all! Go preach to those you hate to win then over for Christ! God did not ask you to be His judge here on earth. Next time you gonna tell us you are better than the other guy because of your religious positions in life. Christ never hated any body like you are trying to do here spreading hate which is causing others to be killed! You are full of personal insecurities and childish behavior like a little toddler. You are a murderer!

Shaka (not verified)     Wed, 04/14/2021 @ 07:16pm

Idiots at Kakuma Camp think they can decide what is right or wrong in Kenyan territory n they r not even Kenyan, happy when that camp is cleared as it is long been a Kenyan headache for too long. Let gay people be n for those who cry religion as to hate the good book says let God be the judge.

Anonymous UI (not verified)     Thu, 04/15/2021 @ 03:32pm

This immoral behavior was carried on by the masters and colonizers on our enslaved brothers and sisters in the west and on our forefathers in Africa. It is a painful reminder of what our enemies did to our forefathers.
It will never be welcome in Africa!!

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