Kabarak University continues to make its mark in the legal arena as our students achieved remarkable success at the 13th Edition of the All Kenya Moot Court Competition. Demonstrating legal acumen, research prowess, and exceptional oratory skills, our team delivered an outstanding performance, further solidifying Kabarak University's reputation as a hub for legal excellence.

For decades, the feminist movement has been a cornerstone in the fight for women’s rights, gender equality, and the dismantling of patriarchal systems.^[1]Feminism has challenged the notion that sex and gender should dictate one’s position in society, advocating for the eradication of gender-based violence and systemic discrimination.^[2] However, the emergence of the gender movement, which champions transgender and non-binary identities, has sparked a complex debate. While the gender movement seeks to expand inclusivity beyond the binary of male and female,non-binary individuals continue to face systemic challenges, including legal erasure, social discrimination, and lack of representation. Many struggle with internalized stigma and exclusion from  cisgender people. ^[3]

In African societies, the relationship between masculinity and feminism has long been contentious, especially due to the strict and definitive cultural gender roles.^[1]  A feminist is seen as a secularist woman who has an uttermost deep-seated hatred towards men and plans on staying single.^[2] As Chimamanda puts it: “[Y]ou hate men, you hate bras, you hate African culture, you think women should always be in charge, you don’t shave, you’re always angry, you don’t have a sense of humour, you don’t use deodorant”.^[3] Feminism, in the eyes of society, is often misunderstood as a movement that hates men and threatens masculinity.^[4] Meanwhile, the law plays a crucial role in either upholding or challenging these societal norms. This article explores whether an African man can be a feminist by examining perceptions of masculinity, legal reforms, and the evolving role of men in gender equality.

Various scholars agree that there is no one way of determining an individual’s gender.^[1] Leneck thinks that gender is a grammatical term referring to whether a word is masculine, feminine or neuter, and has nothing to do with whether an organism is male or female.^[2]

While the concept of sexualities in Africa remains a debated concept, one thing is certain. The perspectives of sexualities have evolved over the years. Professor Charles Ngwena depicts most African cultures as heteronormative and unforgiving to sexual performance in other directions.^[1] Professor John Ambani, on the other hand, is of the view that African cultures have been accommodative to different sexualities since the pre-colonial period, such as homosexuality where the instances suited the cultural practices.^[2] Some African cultures recognised same sex marriages where the woman could not bear children, because reproduction was a key aspect of marriage.^[3] This view was changed by the colonisation which brought with it various aspects like religion, that saw the introduction of laws criminalising homosexuality.^[4] The new perspective saw the continuity of these laws even after the attainment of independence of various African countries. The Kenyan Penal Code, for example, criminalises unnatural offences, which includes homosexuality therein termed as carnal knowledge with another person against the order of nature.^[5] Uganda had also passed a bill in 2014 criminalising homosexuality and attaching a death sentence to it, although it was later declared null.^[6]

The Avid Readers’ Forum (ARF) conducted a session on 12 February 2025 to discuss the duty of lawyers to criticize judges based on an article written by Prof Lonnie T Brown. The session featured two panelists, Mr Ochiel Dudley and Mr Ian Mathenge. Mr Ochiel is a prominent litigator and head of Dispute Resolution at Bond Advocates LLP, while M Mathenge is a well-known academic and an associate at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. The session was moderated by Ms Monica Loko, a final-year law student at Kabarak Law School, and co-moderated by Ms Ruth Jebet, also a final-year law student.