Kenya Deputy President Ruto Threatens LGBTQ Communities
TVC NEWS [NAIROBI] - Kenya's deputy president William Ruto, has warned that homosexuality had no place in Kenya and added that the practice is against Christianity and human nature.
Ruto's remarks came a few days after a high court ordered the government to register a gay rights group that it had earlier refused to recognize on moral and religious grounds.
Our East Africa correspondent Ken Karuri reports that a week after the High Court in Nairobi allowed for members of the lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders (LGBT) community to officially register their organization.
William Ruto said "We will not allow homosexuality in our nation, as it violates our religious and cultural beliefs. There is no room for homosexuality in our society. Be assured of that. When we say this, we are not doing so for us to get votes, but to denounce what we all feel is not right".
Ruto, who is currently on trial at the International Criminal in The Hague for alleged crimes against humanity, assured the religious community of the government's support in opposing the introduction of same-sex relations in Kenya.
He further stated that 'we will stand with religious leaders to defend our faith and our beliefs. We will not allow homosexuality in our nation, as it violates our religious and cultural beliefs."
The remarks by the Kenyan leader has drawn condemnation from right groups activists including from openly gay prominent Kenyan writer Binyavanga Wainana who on his Twitter page said that "Kenya's deputy president joins an important tradition by Africans in power to spread
hate in church on a Sunday."
Ruto's comments came as US Secretary of State John Kerry visited Kenya. Asked to react to the reported comments, Kerry reiterated Washington's position.
"The US believes that all people are created equal and all people have rights, that includes people of every faith, every gender, every choice of partner, no matter who you love," Kerry said.
Homosexuality is illegal in 36 out of 54 African countries and punishable by death in four, according to human rights group Amnesty International.
In neighboring Uganda, legislators sought the death penalty for homosexuality and although the anti-gay bill has since been watered down, ruling party MPs remain eager to see it passed.
Ruto's remarks came a few days after a high court ordered the government to register a gay rights group that it had earlier refused to recognize on moral and religious grounds.
Our East Africa correspondent Ken Karuri reports that a week after the High Court in Nairobi allowed for members of the lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders (LGBT) community to officially register their organization.
William Ruto said "We will not allow homosexuality in our nation, as it violates our religious and cultural beliefs. There is no room for homosexuality in our society. Be assured of that. When we say this, we are not doing so for us to get votes, but to denounce what we all feel is not right".
Ruto, who is currently on trial at the International Criminal in The Hague for alleged crimes against humanity, assured the religious community of the government's support in opposing the introduction of same-sex relations in Kenya.
He further stated that 'we will stand with religious leaders to defend our faith and our beliefs. We will not allow homosexuality in our nation, as it violates our religious and cultural beliefs."
The remarks by the Kenyan leader has drawn condemnation from right groups activists including from openly gay prominent Kenyan writer Binyavanga Wainana who on his Twitter page said that "Kenya's deputy president joins an important tradition by Africans in power to spread
hate in church on a Sunday."
Ruto's comments came as US Secretary of State John Kerry visited Kenya. Asked to react to the reported comments, Kerry reiterated Washington's position.
"The US believes that all people are created equal and all people have rights, that includes people of every faith, every gender, every choice of partner, no matter who you love," Kerry said.
Homosexuality is illegal in 36 out of 54 African countries and punishable by death in four, according to human rights group Amnesty International.
In neighboring Uganda, legislators sought the death penalty for homosexuality and although the anti-gay bill has since been watered down, ruling party MPs remain eager to see it passed.
No comments:
Post a Comment