Denis Nzioka

Denis Nzioka (August 6, 1985) is a sexual and gender minorities activist, consultant, researcher and journalist based in Kenya. His focus is on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer (LGBTIQ) communities as well as sex workers in Kenya and Africa. He is founding editor of Identity Kenya, and the Denis Nzioka News Agency and Service an LGBT and sex work news agency and service.

Nzioka gained a BA in journalism and media studies at the University of Nairobi. He is trained in human rights (Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya (GALCK); East & Horn of Africa Human Right Defenders; Gay Kenya Trust), media/journalism (Internews-KE chapter; Media Council of Kenya), MARPs and HIV/AIDS (Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (Tanzania); Kenya AIDS NGO's Consortium (KANCO); and Kenya National AIDS & STI Control Programme (NASCOP)).

He has consulted for GALCK (religious affairs); Population Council (MSM health); Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) (LGBTI and HIV); Global Network of Sex Work Project (NSWP) (communications); Hebrew Immigration Aid Society (HIAS) (LGBT asylum seekers, refugees); Health Options for Young Men on HIV, AIDS and STIs (HOYMAS) (strategic thinking; fundraising); and Kenya Sex Workers Alliance (KESWA) (fundraising).

He has worked with Fahamu (Reclaim Initiative-LGBTI / SW), Gay Kenya Trust (GKT) (PR, media and communications officer), Identity Kenya (editor, program officer), and HOYMAS (programs).

Nzioka has written articles for mainstream and grass-roots media outlets including The Star newspaper in Kenya, Freedom in Speech, and Gay Star News. He was consultant editor for the Gay Kenya Trust's human rights publication My Way, Your Way or the Rights Way (Storymoja, 2011). Nzioka has contributed to various LGBTI and sex work related national and international policy papers e.g. Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) policy and strategy consultation report: Meeting the HIV Treatment & Health Needs of Gay Men & other Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM), 2013.

His work has taken him to Ethiopia, Tanzania, Switzerland, Mauritius, Zimbabwe South Africa and Germany.

Nzioka, who is openly gay, was a 2013 Kenyan Presidential candidate.

Nzioka currently works with the African Sex Workers Alliance (ASWA), a pan African Alliance of sex work led groups based in Nairobi, Kenya. He serves as Communications Director.

My Way, Your Way or the Rights Way. Nairobi: Storymoja, 2011.