Gay Kenyan wins asylum fight

A gay Kenyan rugby player threatened with deportation has won the right to remain in the UK. Ken Macharia, who emigrated to the UK more than a decade ago, was granted refugee status. He argued that homosexuality is illegal in Kenya and punishable with heavy jail sentences. The Evening Standard reports that a first-tier tribunal of the immigration and asylum chamber upheld Macharia’s appeal against deportation. A judge found he would be at 'real risk of serious harm as a gay man' and that his 'human rights would be breached' were he to be deported. BBC News reports that the LGBTQ-inclusive Bristol Bisons RFC which Macharia represents launched a campaign to support him five years ago. It has welcomed the ruling.

Full BBC News report

Full Evening Standard report