Lobby opposes Apex Court decision on LGBTQ right to associate

The anti-LGBTQ movement in Mombasa on Wednesday protested against the Supreme Court’s decision that reaffirmed the LGBTQ community's right to associate.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court upheld the right of the National Gay and Lesbian Rights Commission to register.

Addressing the media in Mombasa, the anti-LGBTQ movement said that the decision by the Supreme Court judges is going against the will of God and millions of Kenyans.

Salim Karama, the chairman of the movement, said that they do not agree with the decision of the court.

He gave Mombasa parliamentarians a seven-day ultimatum to come up with a motion to oppose the move by the Supreme Court, which will not allow for the registration of non-governmental organisations supporting LGBTQ.

“We don’t accept the court’s decision. We are now calling on Parliament to propose a bill that will ban homosexuality in Kenya,” Karama said.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday threw out an application by Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma that sought to challenge a court ruling on the registration of an LGBTQ+ lobby.

Karama in their briefing questioned why the court’s ruling was going against the constitution, which has clearly banned homosexuality in Kenya.

“Judiciary only interprets the law, and the Kenyan constitution has clearly opposed same-sex marriage. If the constitution is against it, we shall follow up to find out what criteria the court used to allow this,” Karama said.

The movement has now promised to stage a mega protest on Friday to oppose the court ruling.

Sheikh Mohammed Khalifa of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) said that they were not going to allow for the registration of homosexual groups in the country.

He said that Kenya is a God-led country and as religious leaders, they will not allow the country to be disrespected.

“Kenya is a God-driven nation and we respect the holy books which all are against homosexuality. The judges have gone against God’s will in their decisions by following American and Western nations,” Khalifa said.

Sheikh Khalifa called on all Kenyans to stand firm to protect their children and the African culture and respect the will of God.

He reiterated that as clerics they don’t recognise the court’s decision adding that they will continue opposing homosexuality for eternity.

“We are calling on Parliament and President William Ruto to stand with Kenyans and not accept this evil to take place in Kenya. The president and his deputy are staunch Christians who go to church with their spouses, let them not allow this thing to destroy our country,” Khalifa said.

His sentiments were echoed by Sheikh Abu Qatada who expressed shock over the court ruling.

Qatada said that the decision was going to destroy the future of children in the country as he called on President William Ruto to use his majority power in the national assembly and ask the Kenya Kwanza MPs to formulate legislation that will completely ban homosexual activities in the country.

Women leaders, led by former Nacada director Farida Seif, said no one should accept homosexuality, adding that it is going to affect the basic unit of society- that is family.

“We as women will not accept to see our children being homosexuals. What kind of generation are we going to have if we allow this to happen,” he said.

“This will have a great implication on the continuation of families, we expect our children to bear us grandchildren. How will this happen if we allow them to marry people of the same sex.”

Zakiah Mohammed expressed her concern that the decision by the court would pave the way for homosexuality to be taught in school.

“As we speak now, our schools are no longer safe because these things are beginning to happen. All parents must oppose this if we want our country to progress. We have to protect the family unit in our country,” said Mohammed.

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