Earlier in 2024, Pema Kenya conducted an internal assessment of its faith engagement efforts, both those carried out independently and those in collaboration with five partner organizations. This assessment highlighted the need to strengthen and expand faith engagement work, particularly by promoting deeper collaboration among organizations. Recognizing this opportunity for growth, Pema Kenya partnered with the CAC in Nairobi, UJIFO from Mombasa, KARTEKRI, HH, and KISLEB from Kisumu. Together, they worked to design a shared vision for advancing faith-based inclusion and justice for gender and sexual minority (GSM) individuals.

This vision culminated in a three-day convening held from October 28th to 30th, 2024, supported by LGBT+ DK, where these six organizations came together to design a comprehensive five-year roadmap for a collective joint faith engagement program. The convening was structured around capacity-building initiatives, aimed at enhancing the ability of participating organizations to effectively integrate faith perspectives into their outreach and programming.

The capacity-building sessions included workshops, training activities, and collaborative projects, all focused on equipping these organizations with the skills and knowledge necessary to engage faith communities in a meaningful and impactful way. By enhancing their understanding of faith engagement, the partner organizations were better positioned to connect with diverse communities, address social issues, and mobilize faith-based resources for the inclusion of GSM individuals. This training not only strengthened their ability to promote collaboration but also improved their outreach efforts, allowing them to serve their communities more effectively and leverage the positive influence of faith in driving social change.

Through these efforts, the organizations worked together to create the “Faith Consortium for Inclusion and Justice in Kenya” (FCIJ-K), a joint initiative focused on advocating for the rights and inclusion of GSM individuals. The consortium aims to promote a society where GSM people are respected, supported, and empowered to live authentically in all aspects of life. Its mission is to foster safe and inclusive environments across faith, social, professional, and educational communities, promoting allyship and equitable treatment for GSM individuals by 2030.

The consortium brings together key members, including Pema Kenya, HelpHeal Foundation, CAC, KISLEB, KARTEKRI, and UJIFO. Governance of the consortium is guided by a structured Memorandum of Understanding, which outlines the consortium’s objectives and operations. Oversight is provided by the Consortium Advisory Board (CAB), while two key teams support its implementation: the Programs Coordinating Team (PCT) and the Resource Coordination Team (RCT). The PCT includes program leads, communications specialists, and monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) experts, while the RCT focuses on administration and logistics.

This newly formed consortium represents a significant step forward in collective efforts to advance social justice and inclusion for GSM individuals in Kenya. By uniting diverse stakeholders under a common cause, FCIJ-K aims to create a powerful platform for advocacy, fostering collaboration among faith communities, activists, and other key players. Through this partnership, the consortium is poised to make lasting and meaningful progress toward building a more inclusive and equitable society for GSM individuals.
As the FCIJ-K moves forward with its five-year roadmap, Pema Kenya and its partners are committed to strengthening faith-based engagement and working toward a future where GSM individuals are fully included, respected, and empowered across all sectors of society.