Popular Sauti Sol Singer, Willis Comes Out As Gay

One of the stars of top Kenyan band Sauti Sol, Willis Austin Chimano, has come out of the closet, declaring himself gay.

Naija News understands that the Kenyan High Court ruled in 2019 against campaigners seeking to overturn a law banning gay sex.

Gay sex in Kenya is punishable by up to 14 years in prison – a challenge to this law was rejected in 2019.

Speaking about his sexuality, Willis Autin said he no longer wants to live a lie.

BBC reports that the superstar joins the growing list of prominent young Kenyans who have come out as gay or lesbian.

“Young people are saluting him and are seeing him as an icon who comes out to celebrate his life and his sexuality. It’s a good thing, it shows our diversity as a country,” gay activist Kevin Mwachiro told the BBC.

Last week, Chimano released a solo single, Friday Feeling, that he told the local Standard newspaper was “a true representation of who he is”.

“It is the first time I am expressing myself in a song. You really get to know who Chimano is and that is a heavy crown to carry. It is just a representation of the underground ballroom culture within the queer community… which I am part of,” he is quoted as saying.