Kenya has recognized intersex as a gender as it undertakes a population census.

Kenya is now the first African country to recognize intersex as a gender option.

The “intersex” gender option next to the terms “man” and “woman” grants the right to people who do not recognize themselves as men or women to be able to express themselves openly, following the example of George Onyango.

“I will use the initial ‘I’ which represents the intersex that I am.”

“My name is George Onyango, I am an intersex. I attended the workshops for intersex people and there, I was informed of the new census where I was told that in the past there were only two categories for male and female but in this census there will be three, including intersex and I will use the initial ‘I’ which represents the intersex that I am”, said Onyango.

The East African nation officially recognized the third gender earlier this year following the recommendation of a working group set up for the cause.

Intersex Kenyans hope this is a step towards reducing the stigma surrounding them.