Isaack Kiprotich Tanui, a 38-year-old Kenyan, is facing deportation from Canada after his asylum claim was rejected. Tanui had argued that he is a member of the LGBTQ+ community and would face grave danger if forced to return to Kenya. However, during an asylum hearing, the Canadian authorities concluded that Tanui’s claim lacked substantial evidence, particularly regarding any documented persecution of LGBTQ+ individuals in Kenya.
On January 7, 2025, Tanui received a deportation notice from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), instructing him to leave the country.
In an online petition seeking to prevent his deportation, Tanui contends that he moved to Canada on May 5, 2018, alongside his gay partner to escape the risks of persecution, including the threat of death, due to his sexual orientation. Unfortunately, shortly after their arrival, the relationship ended, and they were unable to attend an asylum hearing together.
Tanui claims that the CBSA confiscated his Kenyan passport after it was determined that he was not eligible for asylum. While Tanui is an athlete by profession, he had been working as a forklift operator until his work permit expired in September 2024. Despite applying for a permit renewal, he was informed in November that his request had been denied. He has since submitted multiple appeals for his refugee claim, all of which were rejected.
