Kenyan gays 'happiest' in East and Central Africa, survey shows

Kenya: Kenyan gay men are the happiest in East and Central Africa, according to a new survey.

The study conducted by Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz in Germany, in collaboration with Planet Romeo, an Amsterdam-based dating and community site, ranks Kenya as a favourable abode for gays in the region, ahead of Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Sudan, Rwanda and Burundi.

The Happy Gay index survey combined rankings on public opinion, public behaviour and life satisfaction.

During the survey, which was conducted between December 2014 February 2015, and the results published in the gay groups' website, respondents were asked to give their feelings on society's view on homosexuality, how gays are treated by other people, and whether such groups of people are satisfied with their own lives.

They were asked questions such as how comfortable they would be showing up at a public event with an openly gay person, or approaching a man for a date or sex.

They were also asked to say if they believe people in their locality can hire them to take care of their children.

"Over 115,000 men took part in the survey. It is one of the largest surveys on the well-being of gay men that has ever been conducted," the study report says.

The University's research team comprised of Richard Lemke, Tobias Tornow, Simon Merz and Franziska Schneider.

Kenya is ranked 12th in Africa in the gay happiness index, above Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Ghana and Egypt. It however fairs badly in the overall rankings, emerging 106 out of 127 countries surveyed.