Our Story

About Us

Community-Led Since 2009

Kisumu Shinners is a non-profit Community Based Organization operating in Western Kenya. The organization was formed in August 2009 and registered in 2012 by GBMSMs and Male Sex Workers with lived experience of sex work in Western Kenya. The organization emerged in response to serious challenges affecting GBMSM and Male Sex Workers, including denial of healthcare services, sexual assault, arbitrary arrests and escalating murder cases. These experiences created a need for a community-led organization capable of responding to immediate needs while advocating for longer-term change.

Today, Kisumu Shinners works across sexual and reproductive health, legal and human rights advocacy, economic empowerment, community outreach, sensitization, networking, capacity building and research

Why We Exist

GBMSM and Male Sex Workers can face barriers when seeking healthcare, legal assistance and economic opportunities.

Kisumu Shinners works to address these challenges by connecting communities with information and services, strengthening peer-led capacity, providing legal guidance, engaging stakeholders and creating opportunities for dialogue and economic empowerment.

Our Mission

Promote inclusive access to health, economic, and human rights support for GBMSM and MSW.

Our Vision

Empowered, healthy, and inclusive communities free from stigma and discrimination.

Our Values

Integrity & Transparency

We uphold honesty, transparency, accountability and truthfulness in our work and relationships.

Inclusion & Equity

We value human dignity and recognize the importance of treating every person with respect.

Innovation & Learning

We encourage creative ideas and perspectives that contribute to continuous improvement in our policies and practices.

Accountability & Stewardship

We uphold transparency, responsible resource management, and integrity in every decision, ensuring that our work creates lasting value for the communities we serve.

Collaboration & Partnership

We build meaningful partnerships, share knowledge, and learn together to strengthen solutions, amplify impact, and create lasting change in communities.