gay nairobi

I know you do mostly mother/child/housmaker type of stuff, but this also an expat question (and you must surely have some gay friends/friends of friends!). Where are the best places to meet and hang out with gay people - local or expat - in Nairobi? I know about the law in Kenya and the homophobia, but there's bound to be gay life, as there always is wherever you go. Your suggestions or thoughts would be appreciated. Cheers

In case anyone is dithering about whether to post a reply, you can do so anonymously - you just post as a guest using a pseudonym. Don't all rush together now...

You can try some of the clubs-I know I met someone at the jacaranda hotel in Westlands.
A lot of them cater to the tourist crowd and more in line with prostitutes-you have be careful about HIV in Nairobi

Thanks for that anon. Any names of the clubs you mention (other than the Jacaranda Hotel you mention - presumably the bar there)? Yes, HIV is sadly a big problem in Kenya, whether straight or gay. Its not just about sex, but more about finding convivial company and to be able to be open and relaxed with people around you. Prostitutes - of any variety - can often have an unattractive grasping quality about them, especially in countries where opportunities are limited. No, I'm hoping to meet non-prostitutes. I am especially intrigued about gay life amongst 'Kenya Cowboys'. Wonder how it works amongst them, given the macho/pioneer image cultivated in that group. Do you know any?

Hi Kitkat-
You might want to email the author of this blog(you already may have)-but he seems to know the local scene and is quite active. Nice of you to read my replies and respond. Regarding why more people dont reply to this forum but come and look and is probably, people are expecting topics that they can relate to but are not finding the case. Im sure you will say, then they should post what they are interested in and capture peoples attention
Look at this...im replying to my own rambling posts....phew-need to find a job-way too much time on my hands...

I did see the link in my previous post so here it is again

Its diaryofagaykenyan or thegaykenyan. It wont let me post the url

Thanks anon/anan. I will look at the link you have provided, but confess to being perplexed when you say that the author of this blog is knoweldgeable about the Nbi. gay scene and is "active". From what I can make out, the blog's author is a married woman with a brood of young girls and is actively engaged in bringing up her brood and looking after her husband! My first post in this topic acknowledges that...

kit kat, what did you find out about the social scene here, or did no one give you any info?

Hi Ruby: so sorry have just seen your post days after you made it. This forum is - sadly - a bit quiet and I no longer visit it as regularly as I should.

To answer your question, the only information I got was in the posts you saw. The blog ' Diary of a Gay Kenyan' is interesting and the 'Tamaku Chronicles' in the blog are especially amusing. There is gay life in Nairobi - as there is everywhere - but it is v. discreet - because of the law and because of the homophobia here, particularly amongst the African Kenyans.

You do wonder why people here are so uptight. Perhaps (this is speculation), it is because in pre-industrial society, conventional family life provided companionship, was a vital source of labour and was/is the only support system people had, and so relationships that were not geared to reproduction were frowned upon. Perhaps that inherited outlook persists subliminally, without people interrogating the reasons behind their prejudices.

There are also interesting contradictions in Kenyan society, especially in elite circles. For example, there's a very prominent Kenyan Minister whose private gay life is actually not very private and must surely be known to other government officials and also to journalists and I am amazed that nothing is said about it publicly.

I'm sure there will be progress in time and people will get used to the idea of permitting gay people to exercise their rights. It is always a question of slow progress in these things. When it was first proposed that women should get the right to vote, or that slavery should be abolished or that African countries should get political independence, there was much resistance to such ideas initially, but eventually people saw the sense in such developments and they happened.

Enjoy Nairobi

Hi,

Just came across ya post and as an expat thats been here for 2 years, I thought I'd help you out.

The gay scene here is very open, once you are "in". The most open and easiest place to meet other gay guys in Tacos Bar, upstairs on the balcony, which is located in the CBD not far from the Hilton or the Stanley Hotel. Any afternoon from 5 there will be a clutter of gay guys, but it gets most busy Friday afternoons. Tacos is not very upmarket, but is friendly. Just make sure you be somewhat careful of the guys who approach you or who you approach - u don't wanna be taken for a ride. But just watch and you'll see the genuine groups of gay friends catching up, so just go over and say hi.

Gypsies Bar/Club in Westlands is also very gay-friendly and all the gay guys hang out on the left hand side when you walk in, around the bar and dance floor. Friday nights and Saturday nights are always quite big.

There are also a lot of gay parties held at various venues, but you have to make some friends to be invited and put on the guest lists of these.

Otherwise, just join some of the gay nairobi / gay kenya facebook groups and start chatting to guys on there - only talk though to guys that have lots of profile pics of themselves as the guys that have one or two profile pics - or a whole bunch of stupid pictures, may not be genuine.

If you want more advise, feel free to email me at aussieguy1983@gmail.com .

Cheers!