Motorcycle Taxi Operators' Perceptions of Sexual and Gender Minorities in Coastal Region, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate motorcycle taxi operator's perceptions of sexual and gender minorities in Coastal region of Kenya. The study focused on the following three objectives; to assess the motorcycle taxi operators' perceptions of sexual and gender minorities in Coastal region, to investigate motorcycle taxi operators' perceptions of the root causes of violence against sexual and gender minorities in Coastal region and finally to identify possible solutions or remedies to the violence suffered by sexual and gender minorities in Coastal region. A cross sectional descriptive research design was used. The sampling techniques used were purposive and proportionate to size sampling. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data collected with the aid STATA software. Validity of the instruments was achieved through expert judgement of gender and human rights subject matter experts. Reliability was tested by subjecting the instruments to a pilot study through the internal consistency technique and a Cronbach's alpha of 0.8065 and an average inter item covariance of 0.1200 was obtained. This study was guided by the theory of social disorganization by Shaw and McKay. The study established that cultural values, religious perspectives and a lack of knowledge on the rights of sexual and gender minorities embedded in the constitution were major factors in instigating violence against sexual and gender minorities.