Kenneth Macharia, gay rugby player released on bail

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A rugby player who seeks asylum in the UK on the grounds that he is gay has been released on bail from a detention center despite objections from the Home Office.

Kenneth Macharia, a member of the Bristol Bisons team, fears that if he is forced to return to Kenya, he will suffer the violence.

But the judge at the London hearing said that bail did not indicate that he could stay in the country in the long run.

Mr. Macharia said he was "very happy to be free" and felt "very, very good" when leaving the center.

"I am very grateful to all my friends and all those who supported me," he added.

More than 96,000 people signed a petition to prevent his deportation and grant him asylum.

Detention "inappropriate"

Homobadual acts are illegal in Kenya and punishable by 14 years in prison.

The 38-year-old, whose initial asylum application in the UK was rejected, said: "I am very scared that, if I return to Kenya, I become an example and I am Jailed".

His deputy, James Heappey, said he was "very happy" with the development.

The Conservative MP from Wells said he felt it was "inappropriate". Mr. Macharia had been detained.

"Clearly, bail is not an end in itself, and Ken's future in this country is still under study," he added.

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Mr. Heappey stated that Mr. Macharia, who lives in Glastonbury, had filed a new asylum application and that he "would continue to support him in this task".

Murray Jones, RFC captain at Bristol Bisons, said: "We have pbaded the first hurdle.

"That does not mean that he stays in the country, but it saves us time to get more support and more funds to allow him to benefit from a permanent position in this country. country."

The LGBTQ + team said Mr. Macharia feared "persecution and violence in Kenya because he is gay".

Mr. Macharia was arrested at the Colnbrook Immigration Center near Heathrow Airport.

The Home Office said it did not comment on individual cases.