Gay rugby player wins temporary reprieve from deportation

A gay rugby player threatened with deportation to Kenya, where he fears he will face persecution because of his sexuality, has been given a temporary reprieve.

Kenneth Macharia, a member of Bristol Bisons, a gay and inclusive rugby club, was being held at Colnbrook immigration centre near Heathrow airport.

More than 70,000 people have signed a petition calling for the deportation to be halted and for Macharia to be granted asylum.

The MP for Wells, James Heappey, confirmed that the removal notice for Macharia had been cancelled. He said: “There’s lots left to do, but he won’t be going anywhere for now.”

Bristol Bisons said the threat of deportation still hung over Macharia and it would continue to fight for him.

Macharia arrived in the UK in 2009 on a student visa. He was twice granted extensions of his leave to remain, first as a student, then as a highly skilled migrant.

In May 2016 he claimed asylum, arguing that he had a well founded fear of persecution in Kenya because of his homosexuality. Gay sex is punishable by up to 14 years in jail in Kenya. But his argument that he would be persecuted was rejected.

Macharia joined the Bisons in 2015 and as well as playing on the team he is also a match photographer and first-aider.

Andrew Holmes, who launched the petition, said: “Ken is an integral part of our rugby family at Bristol Bisons RFC. His commitment to the ethos of rugby and to our team is second to none. Our team would not be the same without his warm character. Deporting a good, hard-working gay man to a country where homophobic violence and imprisonment is rife is immoral and unjust and should be stopped.”

Bristol Bisons bill themselves as “the south-west’s only inclusive and gay-friendly rugby team”, offering an “open and welcoming environment to players and supporters of all abilities and backgrounds regardless of sexuality”.

Macharia’s mother, Jacinta Macharia, who lives in south Bristol, said her son had depression, which could get worse if he was deported. She said: “He is the only child I have in this country and has been driving me to and from work in various places because of my arthritis, for which I have been attending physiotherapy sessions.

“I am a 69-year-old British citizen and will progressively depend on him for support as I grow older.”

The Home Office said it could not comment on the case. A spokesperson said: “This government has a proud record of providing protection for asylum seekers fleeing persecution because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and the UK remains a world leader in its approach to handling this type of asylum claim.

“We are committed to delivering an asylum process that is sensitive to all forms of persecution, including those based on sexual identity or orientation. We have a robust assurance mechanism, which involves considering all available evidence in light of published country-specific information.”