Intersex people have officially been included in the latest gazetted sample of birth notification certificates that are filled at birth.
It is a big win for campaigners who have spent years pushing policy reforms to include Kenyans born with both genitalia.
Intersex people are individuals born with any of several sex characteristics including chromosome patterns, gonads, or genitals.
Kenya has officially gazetted intersex as third gender. Photo: Courtesy.
In the last censorship, a number of intersex people were recorded in the country’s population.
This group of people in Kenya face significant human rights violations, starting from birth.
There are few protections from mutilation and non-consensual cosmetic medical interventions and no legislative protection from discrimination.
Intersex persons initially had difficulties in obtaining birth certificates and other forms of documentation, something that is going to automatically change now.
Many have reacted to the news with some praising the government for the big move while others criticised the move.
