Bristol Bisons Member Facing Deportation To Kenya

Type of post: Community Notice
Sub-type: No sub-type
Posted By: Dave Johnson
Status: Current
Date Posted: Fri, 23 Nov 2018
You may have seen the coverage in the national (and international) press, this week, regarding  one of the Bristol Bisons' members who has been detained pending deportation from the UK.  Bristol Bisons are the only Gay/Bisexual/Trans rugby club in the area.

Bison, Kenneth Macharia has had his request for asylum rejected and now risks being deported to Kenya. Ken is fearful of persecution and violence in Kenya because of his sexuality. Deporting Ken from the UK will also mean that he is unable to see his mother who lives in Bristol.  The case has similarities to that of our own choir member, Zamu, who we supported, last year with her fight to stay in the UK.

Unfortunately, like Zamu's, Ken’s story is yet another example of the Home Office ignoring the risks that LGBT people face in multiple countries around the world.  A petition, started earler this week, did seem to have an effect, and Ken's MP intervened to postpone his deportation, however Ken is still being held in the detention centre, at the time of writing this.

For those wishing to support Ken's fight, The Bisons have launched a crowdfunding campaign to pay for a legal challenge, which you can access below.