Washington has given Nairobi a smack on the face after declaring hardline stance in their push for the controversial lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ)rights which the Kenyan society especially religious leaders and political leadership has dismissed as contravening the Kenyan societal values, norms, culture and African traditions in general.
The US ambassador to Kenya Margaret Cushing Whitman said the United States will safeguard the rights of the LGBTQ community.
In Kenya, same sex marriages are outlawed and thus illegal as per the laws of the land of a sovereign nation.
In a statement via her Twitter handle posted today, Whitman said the US will continue to promote human rights and equality of the LGBTQ persons.
“Over the past week my team and I met with the LGBTQI+ community and stakeholders to support human rights of LGBTQI+ persons.” Whitman said.
“The U.S. proudly advances efforts to protect LGBTQI+ persons from discrimination and violence and will continue to stand up for human rights and equality,” she added.
“We respect our courts but our traditions and beliefs do not allow a woman to marry a woman or man to marry a man (same sex marriages). It might happen elsewhere but not in Kenya.” President William Ruto said earlier this month.
The debate was sparked off by the Supreme Court ruling allowing registration for the LGBTQ association which has been heavily criticised by the various religious faith including the church.
In its ruling, the Supreme 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.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who labeled same-sex marriages “demonic” acts had also argued the Supreme Court’s decision allowing was made in bad faith.
“We have our traditions and customs and what they are suggesting is repugnant to morality and justice and our way of life,” Gachagua said.
Whitman’s statement comes at a time when the Kenyan government as well as religious leaders have opposed the Supreme court ruling which allowed for the registration of LGBTQ organizations in the country.
However, on March 3, 2023, Whitman assured that the US will not interfere with Kenya’s position on the LGBTQ issue saying every country is at liberty to make their own decisions on how to deal with gay rights.
“We respect every country’s point of view on what position they want to take on this but of course our democratic values and the way we feel is different and that’s okay, because countries are different,” she said.
However, a good number of foreign countries including Russia have backed Kenya’s stance against the ardent push by western countries to entrench the controversial rights for LGBTQ community advocating for same sex marriages.
Russian president Vladamir Putin through the Russian Embassy in Kenya has welcomed president William Ruto’s declaration that same-sex relationships will not be allowed in Kenya.
The embassy reiterated Moscow’s opposition of gayism amid declaration by President Vladimir Putin that as long as he is President “we will have ”dad” and ”mum”. Putin accused the West of pushing same sex relationships.
“The West is perverting the family, the national identity. They are making pedophilia the norm in their lives, and priests encourage same-sex marriage. Forgive them Father, they know not what they do.” said Putin.
