In Celebration of Pride Month, we are pleased to announce that Kenyan LGBT activist Kevin Mwachiro is our Pride Month Personality for 2019. In this feature, The Rustin Times’ Editor-in-Chief, Harry Itie, speaks to him about his journey as an activist and the importance of using the media as a tool to bring about social change.
In the first few minutes of talking with Kevin Mwachiro, one can feel his passion for the LGBT community in Kenya and across Africa. The journalist, author, and LGBT activist has worked in the media, published a book, co-founded an LGBT film festival, and even represented Kenya at the Gay Games in 2018. Mwachiro, who also worked at the BBC in Nairobi, is also very open about his cancer diagnosis, which he talks about very candidly on his Medium blog.
For over a decade, Kevin Mwachiro has been in this space, making his voice heard in the region and using media to push for change.
“When I came back to Kenya in 2006 from the UK, I decided that I would not go back to the closet and I would just live my life. My activism back then was through the media and my work. I would give coverage to LGBT stories that came my way.”
“I think it is important for us who work in the media to start telling our stories and pushing for our representation on the different platforms that exist.”
Kevin Mwachiro, 2019.
Mwachiro wants to break down walls and find ways to connect with people through documenting stories from the queer community. In 2014, he published ‘Invisible: Stories from Kenya’s Queer Community,’ a collection of experiences from the LGBT community ranging from sexual orientation to gender identity. He also hosts Nipe Story (Tell Me A Story), a fortnightly Kenyan podcast that gives a voice to written short stories, including those from the community.
“There was an interview that Bisi Alimi did,” Mwachiro references Bisi Alimi’s recent interview with BBC Pidgin. “It hit me because of the power of Bisi, doing his interview in pidgin. People could hear it in a language they understand, that they can relate to.”
“These days, it bothers me that we don’t see enough African queer representation in the media. I think we, as activists, need to step up. We need to be seen so that people can relate with us… The time you start seeing yourself in the media, it normalizes you. I think we who work in the media need to start telling our stories and pushing for our representation on the different platforms.”
Not only does Mwachiro communicate his passions, but he also expresses his frustrations, especially with the misreporting of queer issues in mainstream media. Mwachiro says he is working with scriptwriters who will not just present one version of what it means to be queer but to ensure authentic storytelling for the LGBT community.
“A lot of us who are out and in the media need to start using it to our advantage so that we can get represented equally, properly, fairly, and objectively. I wish there were more editors who are willing to take a chance to speak for truth… If we are going to see change happen, we need the support of media owners and editors to go out on a limb for us.”
Even with all of this, Kevin Mwachiro is still optimistic about the queer community, not just on the continent but even in the diaspora.
“I think, as queer people, we should be able to marry what we want from our respective cultures with the expression of our sexuality and gender and marry that into something beautiful. I think the world would notice. That will be one way of our soft power. Look at our music, look at our arts, look at our culture… throw queerness into that, it will be amazing!”
Follow Kevin Mwachiro on Twitter and Instagram, and keep up with his Medium Blog.
