The Economic Case for LGBT+ Inclusion in Kenya
Interactive Kenya City Map - 2025 Edition
Figure 1: Interactive Kenya City Map - 2025 Edition. Use Ctrl + scroll (or pinch to zoom) to zoom in and out of the map. Click a city bubble for more information.
What is the purpose of this report?
This report aims to present a comprehensive evidence base for LGBT+ inclusion in Kenya, in order to demonstrate that successful businesses thrive in diverse, inclusive societies and the spread of anti-LGBT+ policies runs counter to the interests of business and economic development.
What is its scope?
This report sets out the case for inclusion and diversity, with a specific focus on the LGBT+ community. It brings together a broad base of research undertaken from different perspectives and identifies themes that are globally relevant. It draws upon the global evidence base developed by Open For Business and localises the economic and business case to the context of Kenya.
Who is it for?
This report is intended to set out the evidence that will empower those making the case against LGBT+ discrimination. For those in a corporate environment, it provides a strong business rationale for LGBT+ inclusion. For those working on national economic policy, it provides evidence of the link between economic outcomes and a culture of openness and inclusion. For those seeking to end discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, this report shows how LGBT+ inclusion is not a cultural issue, it is a business and economic issue.
Open, inclusive and diverse societies are better for business and better for economic growth.
This is true for companies and economies all around the world, including Kenya. This report presents the evidence base that supports this: it demonstrates that openness and inclusion can aid Kenya in reaching its economic goals laid out in Vision 2030 and that businesses thrive in tolerant societies.
Open For Business has produced two reports that synthesise the global evidence base which shows that open and inclusive environments are good for business and economic growth. The economic and business case for LGBT+ inclusion exists on three levels – economic performance, business performance and individual performance. And there are 27 individual propositions that support these. This report shows that these propositions apply to Kenya, with a specific focus on nine propositions.
The report finds that LGBT+ discrimination costs Kenya’s economy billions of dollars a year, and that a more LGBT+ inclusive society could support stronger economic growth. Thus, a pivot toward LGBT+ inclusion not only saves the economy money, it also creates the conditions for a more robust economy.
Report structure
Part 1: The Current Situation in Kenya. The report begins by investigating the current status of LGBT+ people in Kenya, both legally and socially. It discusses the colonial influences that caused same-sex relations to be criminalised and rooted LGBT+ discrimination in Kenyan society. It also shows the global trend toward LGBT+ inclusion and how Kenya fits in.
Part 2: Kenya’s Economic Opportunity. This presents a comprehensive evidence base which shows that LGBT+ inclusion can benefits Kenya’s economy and companies. The economic performance section identifies five propositions and the business performance section identifies four propositions, each of which provide different arguments about how LGBT+ inclusion enables better performance. This is the first comprehensive study on the economic benefits of LGBT+ inclusion in Kenya.
Part 3: Talking about LGBT+ Inclusion in Kenya: The final section provides a guide for discussing LGBT+ inclusion in Kenya. It identifies some of the common myths and misconceptions that our coalition partners have encountered to their inclusion and diversity journeys, all over the world, and provides practical answers and suggestions to dispel them.
