WHY MAKENA NJERI DOESN’T GO TO CHURCH AFTER COMING OUT

Bold Network founder Makena Njeri has revealed the reason why she no longer goes to church.

In an interview with Bien Baraza on Bald Box Session, Makena said she stopped going to church because religion has been weaponised, “Religion has been weaponised to attack people who identify as gay. I’m a christian, I love going to church but I stopped going when I came out. I immediately walked into church and I didn’t feel safe anymore.

From the priest, to the women, to the choir and the people who were sitting next to me they were like ‘what are you doing in church and we watched your TEDx Talks two days ago.’ When we were growing up, we were told church is a safe space but it changes immediately you start living your truth. I would comfortably still go to church if there was no judgement.”

Makena saysthe Kenyan law has also made it hard for the LGBTQ+ to report abuse cases, “In Kenya it is not illegal for me to say openly that I am gay that why I stood on a TEDx stage and said that and I was not arrested. It is not illegal for you to exist and be with your partner. The law is so vague, if you are a heterosexual man having a carnal activity with your wife it is illegal in Kenya.

They have weaponised the law, that is why I will walk into a police station and they are not going to attend to my needs as a Kenyan because they are those things you are doing are not accepted in this country. People have not taken time to understand what the law means and because of lack of information and education people in the community live with a lot of fear.”

Makena reveals she was outed when her car was vandalised and it hurt, “I was outed in public without my knowledge. My car was vandalised and it was talked about on twitter for three months. Journalists started writing stuff and it hurt me for so long because I had not taken my power back. My coming out was when I did the TEDx Talks, something was lifted off my chest because I owned my story.”