These interviews grew out of a collaboration between the Global Feminisms Project and the Center for the Education of Women+ (CEW+), which hosted Kenyan activists Caroline Mwochi and Kasera Ogola in March 2024 through the Twink Frey Social Activist Program. Both are non-binary queer feminist activists from Western Kenya engaged in LGBTQ+ and intersectional feminist work. During their residency, they generously shared insights into their advocacy, offering a compelling window into grassroots feminist organizing in Kenya. We are deeply grateful to CEW+ for making these conversations possible and honored to feature these powerful stories.
Caroline R Mwochi
Caroline R Mwochi is a 36 year old feminist and a human rights defender advocating for safe spaces and access for all persons including LGBTQ+ persons. As a pansexual, non-binary person, they centers intersectional feminism at the core of all their advocacy actions. Caroline is currently a co- founder and Executive Director of LETS BE TESTED QUEENS also known as Western Kenya LBQT Feminist Forum – WKLFF.
Caroline has over 16 years experience in working on human rights for all and has a vast experience in movement building, mental health, sexual reproductive health and rights, policy advocacy, building public support, media engagement, working with national, regional and international mechanisms, needs assessment, program and project management, financial management, project development and resource mobilization.
She has engaged with regional and international instruments including the International Conference for Population Development (ICPD), Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), High Level Political Forum (HLPF), The UN, the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR) and the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). She has also had several engagements with the Dutch, Belgian, Canadian, Danish, Swedish and Finish government as well as the EU parliament.
She is the current chairperson for the Western Kenya LBQ Organizations Collective and is the chairperson emeritus of the Right Here Right Now One (RHRN 1) platform in Kenya. She has been involved in development of the National AIDS and HIV Control Program (NASCOP), Stand- ard Operating Procedures and manual for Religious Leaders Engagement and the development of a mental health manualized program (WEMA) for sexual and gender minorities. She was also part of a research by the William Institute School of Law – Sexual and Gender Minorities in Western Kenya - https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/sgm-western-kenya/ . She is one of the publishers and brains behind the conception for ‘Herdithi’ a heart wired publication for lived reality stories of LBQITGNC persons in western Kenya. Caroline is also one of the publishers of Mental health challenges and needs among sexual and gender minority people in Western Kenya - https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/3/1311/pdf .
Keywords: LGBTQ+ rights, community activism, gender-based violence, rural women and land reform
Media: Transcript, YouTube Video
Kasera Ogola
Kasera Ogola is a non-binary queer feminist activist from Western Kenya. With a background in public health training, she is passionate about sexual reproductive health and rights and the intersections it has with gender equality and womxn health rights.
Kasera is the founder and executive director of Lake Region Womxn Health and Equal Rights, a grassroot LBQ-led organization that advocates for comprehensive sexual rights and justice that centers feminisms at the core of all its interventions. Her work involves social justice advocacy at the grassroots, national, regional and global spaces.
Keywords: LGBTQ+ Rights, Rural Women and Land Reform, Gender-Based Violence
Media: Transcript, YouTube Video
