PREPARATION OF AN “AGEING” POLICY FOR GAY KENYA.

A House in Malindi already used for Tourism

Gay Kenya realizes that unlike heterosexual couples who have children and grandchildren to take care of them in their old age, LGBTI people may not always have such support at hand. It is with that in mind that Gay Kenya is in the process of preparing a strategy for honourable ageing for the community members.

The strategy as the name applies will entail the use of different mechanisms to address the ageing needs for the community but it is possible it will take the form of  a “sheltered or retirement housing.”  This will probably take the form of housing units being developed in a gated community area, where housing units are detached from one other, perhaps even having their own fenced or non-fenced garden, but sharing such facilities as the recreational facilities,  swimming pool and restaurants (perhaps even a golf course).

Sheltered or retirement housing appeals to people who like living independently but want the reassurance of knowing that assistance is on hand if there is an emergency, or who expect to be away from home for long periods and need to know their home is safe. As such then they need not be areas reserved exclusively to old people but the housing units could also be available to non-LGBTI people who want to benefit from the security and easy access to assistance in cases of emergency, that such facilities afford.

The Gay Kenya is working on a strategy that will make it possible for LGBTI people in Kenya to be assured that by working in LGBTI rights advocacy, they are not risking their future to a hostile life of loneliness, islolation and extreme need. That is why work on the development of such a facility must begin in earnest. This can take form in either commercial or non-profit-making entity, that will begin to develop the facility, perhaps both for sale and for rent at affordable rates. That management entity employs the scheme manager who in turn organises the maintenance and cleaning of external and communal areas.


One way in which this could be done, is in the development of  houses and the sell them to members on a Life interest plans. This is  where one buys the right to live in a property for the rest of ones life. The purchase price would be below the normal market price but once you leave the property reverts back to the company - Gay Kenya. Life Interest Plans are available to people over 65 (if there are 2 of you, ownership of the property carries on to the surviving partner), but age limit should take into account the average life-expectancy data for the ordinary Kenyan population.

Gay Kenya, have been discussing about how to finance such a scheme, which is not only expensive but also long-term. One of the ways to do that has been suggested as the use the Gay Tourism resources which would be available for the coming few years both for local and international tourism. One such a facility is an interesting villa which is already available for tourists on “tailor made arrangements.” If Gay Kenya were to acquire this facility, then it would be possible to continue to generate resources for developing the housing units well in advance of the need.

If you would like to be involved in this process and are not yet a Gay Kenya member contact our “Executive Board” on board@gaykenya.com or Call the Gay Kenya Office on +254-20-242 60 60.