This archive report was first published on 12 August 2019.
On August 12, 2019, a task force formed by the Attorney General presented a report to the government, proposing free medical services for intersex and transgender individuals in Kenya.
The report recommends that the government provide free medical insurance health cover under the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to intersex persons, as well as cover the costs of sex reassignment surgery.
Sex reassignment surgery for intersex individuals typically involves a series of operations that take place over several months or years, with patients able to choose which procedures to undergo.
The cost of sex reassignment surgery can be prohibitively expensive, with most patients paying out of pocket due to a lack of insurance coverage.
However, if the proposal is adopted, the government would be responsible for covering the costs of these services, including anesthesia, hospital stays, and potential surgeries.
The task force, chaired by Mbage Njuguna Ng'ang'a, has also recommended that the ministry of health work with other regulatory agencies to protect against unintentional medical intervention and ensure effective remedy for affected individuals.
The proposal is part of a broader push for Kenya to recognize intersex individuals as the third gender, with the United Nations estimating that approximately 1.7 percent of newborn babies worldwide are intersex.
According to the Child Rights International Network (CRIN), an estimated 20,000 Kenyans are born intersex, although the exact number is difficult to determine due to stigma and lack of awareness.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa) has also called for the establishment of intersex cells in police premises to protect the rights of intersex individuals.
