By Maximilla Wafula
Nairobi, May 15, 2025 -As the world marked the UN International Day of Families, Kenyans from across the country united in a bold show of solidarity to defend the dignity and diversity of all families. Amid growing threats from anti-rights campaigns, they came together to reaffirm a powerful truth — that all families, in all their forms, matter.
In a strongly worded joint statement, civil society organizations, grassroots communities, and concerned citizens expressed alarm over the rising influence of foreign-funded groups such as CitizenGO and Family Watch International. These groups have been accused of pushing a narrow and exclusionary vision of what qualifies as a family, targeting single parents, sex workers, LGBTQ persons, and other non-traditional family structures.
“Not in our name,” the statement declared, rejecting any attempt to redefine family in a way that promotes hate and discrimination.
The movement urged the protection of all Kenyan families, as guaranteed under Article 45 of the Constitution. They emphasized that families come in many forms — nuclear, extended, single-parent, blended, polygamous, surrogate, and community-formed — and all deserve respect, safety, and support. True family values, the group stated, are grounded in love, care, and inclusion, not control or rejection.
The statement also called attention to the real issues affecting Kenyan families in 2025: poverty, inequality, gender-based violence, lack of healthcare access, and widespread discrimination. They demanded urgent government action to invest in public health, education, and social protection, and to reject laws that marginalize any family group.
Community and religious leaders were called upon to foster compassion, dialogue, and inclusion instead of spreading division. The group also advocated for age-appropriate sexuality education, reproductive healthcare, mental health support, and safe spaces free from violence and stigma.
“Families are not under threat from diversity,” the statement concluded. “They are under threat from poverty, neglect, and harmful systems that ignore their needs.”
As Kenyans raised their voices in unity, their message was clear:
“Our families are many. They are strong. They are worthy of love, protection, and belonging. We are many. We are ready. And we are not afraid.”