News

New report on family values and LGBTQ+ narratives in Kenya’s digital sphere

Komons - 21 August 2025

At Komons, we work to support communities and share knowledge that strengthens collective struggles. Together with Puentes and Kenya Comms Hub, we supported a team of researchers to explore how queer communities and women are represented in Kenya’s digital debates on “Family Values.”

The result is the report Family Values and LGBTQ+ Discourse in Kenya's Digital Sphere, which uncovers key dynamics shaping how ‘family values’ discourses are shaping conversations about LGBTQ+ people, women and families. Three insights stand out:

  • Judgment of parents is gendered and classed: single mothers are only praised when successful, while single fathers get credit regardless of income.

  • Pro-rights vs. anti-gender actors: top pro-rights voices often present themselves as health advocates, while anti-gender ones lean on religious or nationalist identities.

  • Everyday LGBTQ+ stories matter: narratives about family, love or humour foster empathy and bridge divides.

👉 Download the preview here 👈

To access the full report, please email insights@komons.org briefly stating your motivation or the organization you collaborate with.

You can also dive deeper into the insights through these articles:

For additional context, you can read about our conceptualisation, research design, query methodology and query approach.