The Experts of our Experiences: Spotlight on The Nature Network in Kenya

“We aren’t safe until we are all safe. Sustainable solutions require co-creation with marginalized communities because we know our lives best and are the experts of our experiences.”- Sulah Mawejje, Director of the Nature Network

We are honouring and celebrating Black History Month by featuring a Black-led partner organization of Rainbow Railroad every week. We are sharing their vital impact and exploring how queer Black liberation informs their work. This week, we are featuring the Nature Network, a transgender and gender non-conforming refugee-led organization in Kenya.

The Nature Network’s Vital Advocacy for LGBTQI+ Rights in Kenya

The landscape for LGBTQI+ rights in Kenya is shaped by legal, social, and cultural challenges. Same-sex relationships remain criminalized under colonial-era laws, while the constitution lacks explicit protections for sexual orientation or gender identity. Social attitudes, heavily influenced by religion and cultural perceptions, often lead to violence and ostracism for LGBTQI+ individuals. Advocacy efforts have encouraged progress, with court rulings affirming the right to association and rejecting invasive practices against LGBTQI+ individuals.  Organizations like the Nature Network are providing vital support, creating safe spaces, and empowering LGBTQI+ refugees and asylum seekers. 

The Nature Network was created in response to a critical gap in safe spaces and essential services for LGBTQIA+ individuals. Sulah Mawejje the Director of the Nature Network, elaborates on this:; 

“We lost community members to HIV/AIDS-related illnesses and faced widespread blackmail targeting queer refugees through Grindr and other dating apps. There was no dignified space for LGBTQIA+ refugees to find safety, self-determination, and a sense of belonging, leaving many vulnerable and without support.”

Improving Outcomes for LGBTQI+ Refugees and Asylum Seekers through the Nature Network

 The Nature Network was formally founded in 2015, based in Nairobi, Kenya. It was established to serve as the first point of contact for many LGBTQIA+ refugees and asylum seekers. The organization’s mission is to foster the conditions for LGBTQIA+ refugees and asylum seekers to live fulfilling and dignified lives. 

The Nature Network provides a range of services aimed at supporting transgender and gender non-conforming asylum seekers and refugees. These include: safe housing, advocacy efforts, economic empowerment initiatives and capacity building for other refugee-led organizations. 

The Nature Network first connected with Rainbow Railroad during  period of crisis. In 2021, Sulah and four others faced false accusations and endured two months of  detention. Rainbow Railroad’s support was swift and instrumental in helping them rebuild their lives, ensuring they had access to legal aid, medical support, and accommodation—both during detention and after, providing practical solutions during a critical moment.

“This support was invaluable, and we remain deeply grateful. Rainbow Railroad showed up for us in times of crisis and took action when it mattered most,” elaborates Sulah.

Rainbow Railroad had supported safe housing, livelihood projects, and advocacy efforts. Sulah shares :“this lifeline, as I call it – ensures we have a safe space where we accommodate homeless asylum seekers and refugees within our community.” 

Amplifying the Voices of LGBTQI+ Refugees

Sulah emphasizes another key impact of the collaboration with Rainbow Railroad: the opportunity to amplify the voices of LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers and refugees. As a film director, creator, and advocate, they use storytelling and advocacy to drive change. Community engagement efforts focus on expanding access to housing, mental health, and reproductive health services. Through public speaking, events, and social impact initiatives, the organizations continues to shed light on these critical issues.

On addressing people who support Rainbow Railroad Sulah expresses his gratitude. ”Thank you for giving to communities that don’t have much. Your support is a lifeline for many like me on the front lines, ensuring asylum seekers and refugees live dignified lives through their displacement journeys. Thanks for being the light to push through and support the work.”

Despite the difficulties of organizing in a country where LGBTQIA+ identities remain criminalized, they have had a major impact. Challenges include arrests and police raids but the rewarding moments drive the organization’s mission forward.

The Nature Network’s aspirations include continuing to provide critical services, strengthening partnerships with organizations like Rainbow Railroad, and becoming a referral organization for vulnerable asylum seekers and refugees. The ultimate goal is to create safe spaces that ensure dignified lives for LGBTQIA+ individuals on their displacement journeys.

How The Nature Network is Pursuing Queer Black Liberation 

As a Black gay man in Africa, Sulah Mawejje’s work is deeply inspired by the pursuit of queer Black liberation. Recognizing that many systems are not built for at-risk LGBTQIA+ refugees, Sulah emphasizes the need to co-create sustainable solutions with affected communities. His activism draws inspiration from Black queer trailblazers, including Cindy (an Olympic medalist from the Refugee Team), Dominique from Pose, Billy Porter, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Justin Hilton of Safe Place International. Above all, he finds motivation in the everyday resilience of queer persons, activists, and refugees who strive for change in hostile environments.

For the Nature Network “queering the system” means creating humane and inclusive processes that ensure safety and dignity for all queer individuals.  As a film director, Sulah uses creative storytelling to ensure that the experiences of LGBTQIA+ refugees are heard.

”I take up spaces where I don’t see representation for myself and my community, we all need to be at the table to ensure change”.

For Sulah,  who faces multiple marginalizations as a Black gay man in Africa, they address the Ugandan Government; “No one deserves to be dehumanized at a young age, and no one should flee home because they are gay. I am human and a citizen of Uganda. I am your son, daughter, and neighbor. Respect us and see me as another human being. Don’t hurt me.”

“We aren’t safe until we are all safe. Sustainable solutions require co-creation with marginalized communities because we know our lives best and are the experts of our experiences”, Sulah affirms.