Kenyan gay rugby player who was ordered to leave UK gets deportation reprieve

Mr Macharia accompanied by supporters when he attended Bridgwater Police Station [photo courtesy/ Bisons RFC Facebook]

A Kenyan gay rugby player who was ordered to leave the UK has got a deportation reprieve.

Kenneth Macharia initially sought asylum in the UK on grounds that he would face persecution and violence once he comes back to Kenya due to the country’s tough measures on same-sex unions.

According to Bristol Bisons RFC, a gay and inclusive rugby club that Mr Macharia plays for said on their Facebook account that the 39-year-old was allowed to return home after receiving a letter from the Home Office on June 4 directing him to check into Bridgwater Police Centre.

"We are ecstatic to announce that Ken was not detained today when he had to check into Bridgwater Police Centre this morning,” read part of Bisons RFC’s statement.

“A huge thank you to the 60+ people that turned up to support Ken, some travelling from as far as London to help. This is a small victory but we must continue the fight.

“We will not rest until Ken is safe and granted asylum here, at his home, where he belongs.”

Mr Macharia was accompanied by supporters when he attended Bridgwater Police Station.

Mr Macharia’s woes come just a few days after Kenya’s high court upheld a law banning gay on grounds that sex decriminalizing same-sex relations contradicts constitutional values and the customs of Kenyan people.

A letter sent to Macharia from Home Office acknowledged his previous requests for fresh asylum but noted that ‘he had no basis to continue staying in the United Kingdom.’

“Your further submissions have been fully considered and I have concluded that you do not qualify for leave on any basis…

“You have no basis to continue to stay in the United Kingdom and you are expected to make arrangements to leave without delay,” read the directive.

It further stated: “Whilst same-sexual activity between men has been criminalized with a penalty of up to 21 years in prison, this law is rarely applied and the objective evidence does not establish that LGBT persons are likely to be subjected to persecution or serious harm.”

Macharia first claimed asylum in 2016, having arrived in the UK on a student visa in 2009 to study mechanical design engineering.

In 2018, his club, the Bristol Bisons protested his planned deportation arguing that Macharia would be persecuted in Kenya.