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Kenyan Court Compels Trans Name Changes

The Kenyan Court has handed down a compulsion order, requiring the Principal Registrar of Persons to change the names in the identification documents for five transgender individuals in Kenya.

The Principal Registrar of Persons has 21 days to effect the name changes in the national identification cards.

A lawyer representing the trans clients told Justice George Odunga that despite receiving a legal opinion from the Attorney General the registrar had yet to effect the name changes in the national IDs. The judge was told that a deputy registrar confirmed receiving the advisory from the AG “but has declined to effect the name changes.”

Inaction contrary to constitution

“The AG has given the registrar a legal opinion which should have settled the matter…it cannot be put off any further,”the judge said adding that such “inaction to carry out a statutory mandate is contrary to the constitution. “Such delay cannot amount to fair administrative action,” the judge ruled.

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