- The Friday demonstrations come after Supreme Court gave a green light for same sex relations
- On Thursday, a vehicle with loudspeakers was going round Mombasa town announcing the planned demonstrations
Image: LABAN WALLOGA
Anti-LGBTQ+ movement leaders in Mombasa have planned a mega demonstration on Friday to oppose the Supreme Court's decision to allow registration of organisations that champion same sex relations.
The leaders who include religious leaders and lobby groups have vowed to mobilise locals from all the six sub-counties in Mombasa to hold street protests against LGBTQ+ at 1pm (Dhuhr) after Muslim prayers.
In its Tuesday decision, the apex court upheld the right of the National Gay and Lesbian Rights Commission to register as a non-government organisation.
The anti-LBGTQ+ movement chairperson Salim Karama told the Star that they have mobilised thousands of Mombasa residents from Kisauni, Nyali, Jomvu, Changamwe, Likoni and Mvita.
“We have already notified the police of our planned demonstration. We have also had a meeting with them and they have agreed to grant us security during the demonstrations,” said Karama.
He said Christians, Hindus and Islamic religious leaders will lead Friday’s demonstration which will be attended by thousands of people.
In its Tuesday decision, Kenya’s apex court upheld the right of the National Gay and Lesbian Rights Commission to register as a non-government organisation.
The decision irked Mombasa’s anti-LGBTQ movement which on Wednesday staged a brief protest along Moi Avenue in Mombasa town, condemning the Supreme Court judges for “supporting immorality.”
On Thursday, a vehicle (Toyota Probox) with loudspeakers was going round Mombasa town announcing the planned demonstrations.
The Jomvu and Changamwe residents will be meeting at Sakina Mosque in the Majengo area, and Nyali, Kisauni and Old Town residents will be meeting at the Fayaz area near Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital.
The Likoni residents will meet at the Likoni Naivas Mall area.
“All these three groups will then move towards the town centre and converge at the central business district. We want to send a message to the government,” said Karama.
In recent weeks, Mombasa’s anti-LGBTQ movement leaders have been staging several protests to oppose gay activities in the region.
About two weeks ago, the movement stormed a nightclub in Bamburi accusing them of promoting gayism by hosting a gay people's party.
The party had been advertised at the club and fliers were being distributed indiscriminately.
“Our efforts are not going to be in vain. We managed to stop that planned gay party and we are hopeful the Friday’s demonstration will also send a message to President William Ruto and his government,” said Karama.
On Wednesday, during the Moi Avenue protests, the lobby group challenged the Members of Parliament (MPs) to come up with a legislation that will ban LBGTQ+ activities in Kenya.
They issued a seven-day ultimatum to Coast region MPs to come up with a motion that will oppose the registration of LGBTQ+ organisations.
"We are in total disagreement with the Supreme Court's decision. We are now asking the MPs to propose a Bill that will totally ban homosexuality in Kenya," said Karama.
He argued that the Kenyan Constitution does not support same-sex marriage.
"The judiciary's work is to interpret the law, and the Constitution is clear on same-sex marriages," he said.
The Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) also faulted the Supreme Court's decision
CIPK's Sheikh Mohammed Khalifa said Kenya is a religious country, guided by God.
"The judges have gone against God’s will in their decisions by following Western beliefs,” said Khalifa.