Supreme Court ruling last month allowed the registration of homosexuality as Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) groups.
The court said that the decision to deny LGBTQ members their right to register as an NGO despite homosexuality being illegal in the nation was discriminatory.
The Supreme Court in its ruling stated: “Despite gayism being illegal (in Kenya), they have a right of association.”
However, Kenya’s President William Ruto has for the first time broken his silence over the Supreme Court ruling that gave a green light to homosexuality.
Speaking at the Kenyatta International Convention Center (KICC), Nairobi, during the re-launch of the Women Enterprise Fund on Thursday, March 2, the Head of State maintained that he will not allow homosexuality in Kenya.
The president said he respects the apex court’s decision but insisted that Kenya’s values and religion do not allow same-sex relationships.
“I’m a man of God. Even though we respect the Supreme Court, our religions and cultures do not allow a woman to marry a fellow woman or a man a fellow man,
“We cannot go to the streets to demand that they be allowed to marry. This can happen elsewhere but it will not happen in Kenya,” the President said.
Homosexuality remains criminalized in Kenya. Even today, those convicted of homosexuality in Kenya face up to 14 years in prison.
Others who have condemned the Supreme Court ruling include Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party leader Raila Odinga, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula.
The former Prime Minister said the Judiciary interprets but does not make Kenya’s laws.
“Article 45:2 states that every adult has a right to marry a person of the opposite sex based on the free consent of the parties,” he said.
“It’s not the role of the judiciary to make laws. The Constitution recognizes the separation of powers.”
