January 31st 2025.
Virginia Wairimu arrived in the UK in May 2019, seeking safety and protection from her home country of Kenya. She had been living in fear for years, constantly looking over her shoulder and worrying for the safety of herself and her two daughters. Virginia's journey to the UK was not an easy one, and she has been met with numerous challenges and obstacles in her pursuit for asylum.
At the heart of Virginia's story is her identity as a lesbian, which has caused her immense hardship and danger in Kenya. In early 2019, she was attacked by two men while out shopping with her children. These men had previously caught her and her partner being affectionate, and they made it clear that they would not tolerate what they saw as a "satanic way of life". Virginia's attackers threatened her and her family, saying that she deserved to be "eliminated". This terrifying experience forced Virginia to make the difficult decision to leave her children behind and flee to the UK.
However, her journey to safety has not been an easy one. When Virginia applied for asylum in September 2019, she was met with disbelief and rejection from the Home Office. They did not believe that she was a lesbian or that she would face persecution if she returned to Kenya. Even when she appealed this decision, a judge told her that she could "live anywhere in Kenya without fear". This lack of understanding and compassion from the Home Office has left Virginia feeling helpless and unsupported.
Virginia's struggles do not end there. She was forced into marriage at a young age, under pressure from her strict Christian parents. Her husband was abusive, and she eventually left him when her daughter was just two years old. After starting her own travel agency, she adopted a daughter in 2014 and met her current partner three years later. Despite keeping their relationship discreet, Virginia was outed at a party and faced further violence and discrimination from her former colleagues. Fearing for her safety and the safety of her children, Virginia made the difficult decision to flee to the UK.
Now, Virginia is living in charity accommodation in Birmingham and is unable to work or open a bank account while her asylum case is being considered. She relies on welfare and food banks to survive. However, she has also found support in the form of the #WeAreVirginia campaign, which has gained over 1,100 signatures on her Change.org petition to stay in the UK. Despite this, the Home Office has refused to comment on her case.
Homosexuality is still highly stigmatized and criminalized in Kenya, with punishments of up to 21 years in prison. A proposed bill could increase this to 50 years and even death for what is deemed as "aggravated homosexuality". This deeply ingrained homophobia is reflected in a 2022 poll, which found that nearly seven in 10 Kenyans believe that homosexuality is not justifiable. This includes Virginia's own parents, who pressured her into marriage and do not accept her sexual orientation.
For Virginia, being granted asylum in the UK would mean a chance to start a new life and leave behind the constant fear and discrimination she faced in Kenya. It would also mean being able to reunite with her children, who she had to leave behind in order to protect them. Despite the challenges she has faced, Virginia remains hopeful and determined to find safety and acceptance in the UK.
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