US-Based Kenyans to Press Gachagua, Maraga on LGBTQ Rights Ahead of 2027

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and former Chief Justice David Maraga are planning visits to US cities between September and October 2026 as they seek support from Kenyans living abroad ahead of Kenya’s 2027 presidential election.

Gachagua and Maraga, who are now aligned with the United Green Movement, are targeting a diaspora community of more than 150,000 Kenyans in the United States. The community has significant economic and political influence, making it an important constituency for presidential candidates.

For some Kenyans in the diaspora, however, the election is about more than remittances and investment. Some left Kenya after facing persecution linked to their sexual orientation or personal relationships. For these voters, campaign events are also opportunities to demand recognition and protection of rights that they may not be able to exercise safely in Kenya.

The difference between domestic and diaspora politics is increasingly clear. Political campaigns in Kenya often focus on ethnic alliances, patronage networks and large grassroots events. Kenyans abroad, particularly those living in established democracies, are more likely to demand clear positions on institutional reform, civil liberties and accountability.

Gachagua experienced this scrutiny during an appearance in Baltimore in July 2025, when a young Kenyan, Valentine Wanjiru Githae, questioned him over divisive ethnic rhetoric. The exchange highlighted the level of direct accountability candidates can face when engaging with diaspora audiences.

Overseas voters are also seeking more than commitments on property rights and dual citizenship. They want candidates to address inclusion and the protection of vulnerable groups, including the LGBTQ community, whose visibility has increased both abroad and in Kenya but whose members remain legally and socially vulnerable in the country.

Social media and diaspora networks have increased the ability of overseas Kenyans to raise such issues and hold political leaders to account. Candidates seeking their support are therefore facing demands that go beyond the transactional politics common in domestic campaigns.

Kenya receives more than $5 billion a year in diaspora remittances, which support households and businesses across the country. The diaspora’s influence, however, increasingly extends beyond the economy as overseas voters seek a more transparent, effective and secure Kenya.