Audrey Mbugua takes transgender case to Medical Board

By Isaiah Lucheli

NAIROBI, KENYA: Audrey Mbugua who is suffering from Gender Identity Disorder (GID) has taken her predicament to the Medical Practitioners and Dentist.

Through the Trans Gender Education and Advocacy Association Mbugua has filed submissions with the Technical Working Committee of the board over the challenges faced by the individuals suffering from the disorder.

The board’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr Daniel Yumbya and the members of the committees however declined to allow Mbugua to attend the sittings of the panel in person saying that she was an interested party.

Yumbya and the Chairman Dr Samson Wanjala told Mbugua that the committee would have accepted any other member of the Trans Gender association to attend the sessions but not her since her issue would form part of the discussions.

Yumbya explained that two years ago the board had received a letter from Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) requesting for an advisory opinion over Mbugua’s condition and it would not be in order to discuss the matter in her presence.

Mbugua agreed with the board had handed over the written submissions for the Trans Gender association and explained that the submission contained all the issues that affected the organization and all their prayers and suggestions.

The Trans gender association wants the medical board to come up with a policy framework to address the challenges faced by individuals suffering from identity disorder and reactive depression.

Mbugua explained that the country lacked clear legislation and guidelines to ensure that people who were suffering from the problem to feel as part of the society.

She had gone to KNH requesting for an operation that would have removed her male organ so that it could be fashioned to female genitalia and had also sought for therapy with female hormones, which prompted the hospital to seek advisory from the board.

Mbugua explained that she had tried to get medication and even contorted her own solution to suppress male hormones in her body.

The committee comprises surgeons, psychiatrics, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, gynaecologists, Law Society of Kenya, pharmacist, religious leaders among many others.