Today, Sunday 13 June, marks the International Day for Albinism Awareness. In Kenya, activists working to change attitudes believe that progress is visible, even if the stigma remains.
as reported from Nairobi, Albane Thirouard
Local actors agree: in recent years, the situation has developed in the right direction. Isaac Mwaura is proof of this: the first albino parliament in the Kenyan parliament, he is now a senator. A first too. “In 15 years we have made great progress,” he says. Before we were recognized, we were even considered a lower class in society, especially for access to official functions and employment. Now in Kenya, we have succeeded in presenting an alternative model by having political representations and, above all, a dedicated budget. In 2019, we even managed to be included in the total census. ”
Despite these advances, the stigma against people with albinism remains strong.
“Women are always raped because people think they can cure HIV,” says Isaac Mwaura. People with albinism have been killed by people who want to use their bodies for rituals that will bring good luck. There are also so many albino children who are never recognized by their biological father. ”
For Daniel Onyango, the father of a 4-year-old albino boy, everyday life is accompanied by unpleasant situations. “When we walk on the street, people look at us, he regrets. When the other children see him, they call him Mzungu, which is the term used to refer to white people. “
To break this discrimination, albino defense associations insist on the need to continue educating populations about this genetic trait. They also insist that the budgets set aside for this are significant.
► Also for listening: RFI Savoirs:Albinism: origins, treatments and prevention
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