NAIROBI, Kenya (LifeSiteNews) — A recent ruling upholding a decision to allow LGBT organizations to form in the pro-family African nation of Kenya has led religious citizens to push back against the left-wing move.
The protests, led by Muslim leaders, came after a Supreme Court ruling on September 12 that declared pro-LGBT groups are not breaking the law by advocating for the legality of homosexual acts, citing laws that allow individuals the right to associate. Pro-family opponents maintain that citizens should not be permitted to lobby for illegal activities. Christians also attended protests against the decision, according to Africanews.
As reported by the African news agency Nation, the ruling was supported by Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwili, Smokin Wanjala, and Njoki Ndungu and opposed by Justice William Ouko and Mohamed Ibrahim.
Protestors gathered with pro-family signs in Mombasa the day after the ruling, holding messages such as “repent and turn to God,” identifying themselves as the “anti-LGBTQ movement.” One religious leader told reporters that the protesters are asking their president “to step his feet on the ground” and put an end to the LGBT agenda in Kenya, citing efforts in Uganda to restrict homosexuality and transgenderism throughout the nation.
The September 12 Kenya ruling rejected a petition made by Peter Kaluma, Homa Bay MP, who sought to challenge a February 24 ruling to allow homosexuals to form LGBT organizations. Following the reaffirmation of the original decision, Kaluma expressed plans to continue fighting the ruling, citing its “dangerous precedent.”
The politician specifically criticized the court’s definition of sex, which he argued is not in line with the Kenya constitution. He also voiced support for the Family Protection Bill, which, among other things, would clarify the definition of sex. Additionally, Kaluma expressed his determination to amend the definition of sex in the Kenya constitution to remove “sexual orientation.”
Johnson Muthama, former senator from Machakos, shared similar sentiments. In a statement issued after the ruling, he said that “advocating for LGBTQ+ acceptance is a foreign agenda, aimed at eroding African moral standards.”
Muthama also cited previous statements made by President William Ruto, who has declared he won’t allow the nation to fall prey to the LGBT agenda while he is in leadership.
“President Ruto was very clear that homosexuality is unacceptable in Kenya, and I want to urge fellow patriots to unite in safeguarding our nation against such practices,” Muthama said.
The backlash for the move to ease restrictions on the LGBT agenda is the latest effort by Kenyans to push back against the Western ideologies threatening to subvert their country. Resistance to the threat has come from bishops who also advocate for constitutional protection of “cultural values” amid the rise in pro-LGBT sentiments.
As the LGBT agenda strives to spread from the Western world, African nations are boldly pushing back and standing firm in their conservative convictions. In July, Namibia passed a ban on so-called same-sex “marriages,” citing the need to “respect” marriage as between one man and one woman.
Uganda’s anti-sodomy law has been the subject of international debate this year. However, condemnation from Western leaders has not deterred President Yoweri Museveni, who remains committed to enforcing laws that protect his country’s traditional values.
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