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| Kenya to launch homosexual census | Kenya to launch homosexual census |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Kenya is to carry out a census of its gay population in an effort to bolster the fight against HIV/Aids - despite homosexuality being against the law. | Kenya is to carry out a census of its gay population in an effort to bolster the fight against HIV/Aids - despite homosexuality being against the law. |
| Nicholas Muraguri, head of Kenya's Aids prevention programme Nascop, told the BBC it was vital that the government reached out to the gay community. | Nicholas Muraguri, head of Kenya's Aids prevention programme Nascop, told the BBC it was vital that the government reached out to the gay community. |
| He said gay people suffered from a lack of information about the disease. | He said gay people suffered from a lack of information about the disease. |
| But analysts say many gay people will be afraid to come forward in a country where homosexuality can result in jail. | But analysts say many gay people will be afraid to come forward in a country where homosexuality can result in jail. |
| Mr Muraguri conceded that an accurate count was unlikely. | Mr Muraguri conceded that an accurate count was unlikely. |
| FROM BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service | FROM BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service |
| But he told the BBC's Network Africa programme that getting a clearer idea of the number of gay people would be a huge help with targeted interventions such as provision of condoms. | But he told the BBC's Network Africa programme that getting a clearer idea of the number of gay people would be a huge help with targeted interventions such as provision of condoms. |
| He said the survey would involve gay men identifying each other, and officials carrying out HIV tests and providing along with information on safe sexual practice. | He said the survey would involve gay men identifying each other, and officials carrying out HIV tests and providing along with information on safe sexual practice. |
| "Kenyans cannot actually afford to say that the gay community are isolated somewhere in the corner - they are part of our lives," he said. | "Kenyans cannot actually afford to say that the gay community are isolated somewhere in the corner - they are part of our lives," he said. |
| "This group must be reached with information and services so they know how to protect themselves from getting infected." | "This group must be reached with information and services so they know how to protect themselves from getting infected." |
| Census first | Census first |
| Analysts say Kenya has made progress in its fight against HIV/Aids - one-in-10 people had the virus in the late 1990s, a rate that has now fallen to 6%. | Analysts say Kenya has made progress in its fight against HIV/Aids - one-in-10 people had the virus in the late 1990s, a rate that has now fallen to 6%. |
| There's no information here about safety measures Gay rights activist Peter Njane Being gay, Christian and Kenyan | There's no information here about safety measures Gay rights activist Peter Njane Being gay, Christian and Kenyan |
| The BBC's Gladys Njoroge in Nairobi says the census, which will begin in June next year, will be the first of its kind in Africa. | The BBC's Gladys Njoroge in Nairobi says the census, which will begin in June next year, will be the first of its kind in Africa. |
| Gay rights activist Peter Njane told the BBC he was optimistic that the survey would play a key role in the fight against HIV. | Gay rights activist Peter Njane told the BBC he was optimistic that the survey would play a key role in the fight against HIV. |
| "Most of the gay community think that having sex with men is safe. There's no information here about safety measures," he said. | "Most of the gay community think that having sex with men is safe. There's no information here about safety measures," he said. |
| But Kenyans are divided over the survey's impact, with some Nairobi residents saying they did not believe it would help control the spread of Aids. | But Kenyans are divided over the survey's impact, with some Nairobi residents saying they did not believe it would help control the spread of Aids. |
| Gay Kenyans told the BBC they would be willing to be counted - but only if their identities were protected. | Gay Kenyans told the BBC they would be willing to be counted - but only if their identities were protected. |
| Homosexual activity is punishable by up to 14 years in jail in Kenya. | Homosexual activity is punishable by up to 14 years in jail in Kenya. |