Kenya’s First Lady requests prayers against homosexuality

By Khulile Thwala

A recent ruling by the Kenyan Supreme Court favouring the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community has resulted in an uproar within Kenyan society including from Kenyan Authorities.

Kenya’s First Lady Rachel Ruto on Sunday declared national prayers against homosexuality in the country, saying the family unit in the country was under attack.

Ruto said the country could not condone last month’s Supreme Court ruling which upheld the LGBTQ community’s right to association.

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“We should not even discuss anything about LGTBQ. This is a conversation we should not even have in this country because accepting it is like doing away with our morals and disposing of them,” the first lady said.

Homosexuality remains criminalised in Kenya. According to BBC News Africa, the Supreme Court ruled that refusal to allow the LGBTQ community to register lobby groups in Kenya would violate their right to association, as provided in Kenya’s Constitution.

However, the ruling was met with protests from President William Ruto and other authorities, as well as religious leaders in Kenya.

Kenya’s attorney general said the government would challenge the
court’s ruling, insisting that the issue is a matter for public consultations rather than for the courts.