James Karanja was born with both female and male characteristics, leading to confusion in his village about his gender identity. Local authorities reportedly took him to a hospital for treatment, where a priest advised his family to raise him as a girl to avoid social stigma.
"The priest told us I should be raised as a girl to avoid problems. My father later said he never wanted to see something like this in our village." James recalled.
After years of living as a girl, Karanja began questioning his identity during adolescence. He described discovering physical differences that contradicted his assigned gender, leading to emotional turmoil and social isolation.
"I realized there was a discrepancy in my body. I was confused about who I really was." Karanja shared.
In 2016, Karanja learned the truth about his biological identity and legally changed his name from Mary Waithera to James Karanja. The process involved navigating bureaucratic challenges and overcoming family resistance.
"My mother struggled with the reality. She said she never wanted to see this happen in our family." Karanja explained.
Despite legal recognition, societal prejudice persists. Karanja continues to face discrimination in his community, highlighting ongoing challenges for intersex individuals in Kenya.
