NAIROBI – Kenya’s President William Ruto reiterated Thursday that the nation’s position on same-sex marriage remained unaltered while criticising a recent Supreme Court decision that permits an activist to register an LGBTQ rights organisation.
The activist’s request for registration had been turned down by the national board that regulates non-governmental groups.
The board acted improperly, according to Kenya’s High Court and Court of Appeal, and on February 24, the Supreme Court concurred, rejecting the board’s additional appeal.
The Supreme Court’s 3-2 decision is respected by the government, but President Ruto noted that “our culture and religion do not tolerate same-sex marriages.”
“It is not possible for our country Kenya to allow same-sex marriages. It will happen in other countries but not in Kenya,” he added.
The majority of the Supreme Court emphasised in the ruling that same-sex marriages are forbidden in Kenya.
The same-sex intimate relationships are prohibited by Kenya’s penal law. Activists’ attempts to persuade the court to strike down the colonial-era legislation have been unsuccessful.
This week, a group opposed to LGBTQ rights in the coastal city of Mombasa demonstrated the Supreme Court’s decision to permit the organisation.
The majority of Kenyans are conservative and devout. On Thursday, President Ruto urged religious leaders to step up education efforts to advance what he called traditional principles.
