Perceptions and Cultural Attitudes toward Same-Sex Marriages and Their Implications for Family Structure in Kenya

This study examines the perceptions and cultural attitudes toward same-sex marriages in Kenya, with a specific emphasis on how these views intersect with and potentially challenge the preservation of traditional African family values. In the context of increasing global advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights, Kenya stands at a cultural crossroads where modern rights-based discourses meet long-standing African values that define family as a union between a man and a woman, primarily oriented toward procreation, lineage continuity, and communal cohesion. Employing a qualitative methodology, the research draws on in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and document analysis involving community elders, religious leaders, cultural custodians, educators, legal experts, and representatives from both pro-LGBTQ+ and conservative advocacy groups. The aim is to explore the deep-rooted cultural beliefs and moral frameworks that underpin Kenyan attitudes toward family and marriage and how these beliefs respond to or resist the concept of same-sex unions. Findings indicate that a significant majority of participants perceive same-sex marriage as a cultural disruption, incompatible with the traditional African understanding of family. Core concerns revolve around the perceived erosion of generational continuity, destabilization of gender roles, and the potential weakening of societal structures that have historically depended on heterosexual family units. At the same time, the study acknowledges the existence of a small but growing counter-narrative among youth and rights-based movements advocating for inclusivity and legal recognition of diverse family forms. The research concludes that while social perceptions toward same-sex marriages are evolving in some urban and globalized spaces, the dominant cultural narrative in Kenya still strongly favors the preservation of traditional family values. The study underscores the importance of grounding any discourse on family reform within culturally sensitive frameworks that respect African communal norms and intergenerational wisdom. It recommends policy dialogues that bridge human rights with cultural preservation and advocates for civic education that allows for critical yet respectful engagement with changing social realities.