IPPF Africa Region Welcomes Kenya’s Landmark Recognition of Intersex Persons

IPPF Africa Region Welcomes Kenya’s Landmark Recognition of Intersex Persons

Nairobi, Kenya: 13 February 2025 – On 31 January 2025, Kenya has taken a groundbreaking step towards inclusivity and human rights by officially recognizing intersex as a sex marker alongside male and female in the Kenya Legal Notice 153 of 2025. This marks a significant policy shift that affirms the dignity and rights of intersex persons from birth.

The International Planned Parenthood Federation Africa Region (IPPFAR) welcomes this milestone, which reflects the tireless efforts of intersex persons, activists, and allies who have long advocated for legal recognition. By including intersex in official documentation, Kenya is addressing years of systemic marginalization and laying the foundation for greater visibility and protection.

This recognition is more than just an administrative change; it is a crucial affirmation of the existence, dignity, and rights of intersex persons who have long faced systemic marginalization. Societal stigma has forced many to conceal their identities, leading to a lack of public awareness, inadequate medical support, and legal invisibility. The extent of this invisibility is reflected in official data—while the 2019 census recorded only 1,524 individuals as intersex, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights estimates the actual population could be as high as 1.4 million.

The significance of this recognition is deeply felt within the Intersex community. Andy Maxwell, an intersex activist and Executive Director of Q We Rise Network expressed the overwhelming joy and validation this brings: “Finally, we can have our identity reflected on our identification documents. We are also incredibly excited about this victory, especially at a time when it felt like our efforts were being challenged.”

Marie-Evelyne Petrus-Barry, IPPF Africa Regional Director, said: "This momentous recognition by the Kenyan government is a testament to the resilience and advocacy of the Intersex community and its allies. It is a vital step toward dismantling systemic barriers that have long denied intersex persons their rights and visibility. As we celebrate this progress, we urge continued efforts to ensure that legal recognition translates into real, lived equality, where intersex persons are free from stigma, discrimination, and medical violations".

While legal recognition is a milestone, intersex individuals continue to face violations of bodily autonomy through forced medical interventions. Non-consensual procedures, often performed in infancy or childhood to fit binary norms, cause lasting physical and psychological harm. True inclusion requires not only recognition but also strong protections against these harmful practices, ensuring intersex persons have full control over their own bodies.

“RHNK applauds the Kenyan government for this historic step in recognizing the rights and dignity of intersex persons. As an organization committed to advancing inclusive sexual and reproductive health rights and strengthening healthcare access, we emphasize the need to ensure that this recognition also leads to equitable, stigma-free and gender affirming healthcare services. Every intersex person deserves the right to bodily autonomy and access to non-discriminatory medical care”, said Nelly Munyasia, Executive Director, Reproductive Health Network Kenya, IPPFAR’s Associate Member in country.

IPPFAR is committed to advancing intersex rights by working with communities, policymakers, and healthcare providers through Reproductive Health Network Kenya. While legal recognition is progress, ensuring meaningful protections and rights-based healthcare remains essential on the path to full equality.

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For further information or to request an interview, please contact:

-Mahmoud GARGA, Lead Strategic Communication, Voice and Media, IPPF Africa Regional Office (IPPFAR) – email: [email protected] / Tel: +254 704 626 920

ABOUT IPPF AFRICA REGION (IPPFAR)

The International Planned Parenthood Federation Africa Region (IPPFAR) is one of the leading sexual and reproductive health (SRH) service delivery organization in Africa, and a leading sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) advocacy voice in the region. Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, the overarching goal of IPPFAR is to increase access to SRHR services to the most vulnerable youth, men and women in sub-Saharan Africa.

Supported by thousands of volunteers, IPPFAR tackles the continent’s growing SRHR challenges through a network of Member Associations (MAs) in 40 countries. We do this by developing our MAs into efficient entities with the capacity to deliver and sustain high quality, youth focused and gender sensitive services. We work with Governments, the African Union, Regional Economic Commissions, the Pan-African Parliament, United Nations bodies among others to expand political and financial commitments to sexual and reproductive health and rights in Africa.

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