Dozens of Kenyans rallied in Nairobi on Monday against homosexuality, as they warned that U.S. President Barack Obama should not push a pro-gay agenda when he visits the country later this month.
“Many of the demonstrators wore t-shirts with the slogans, “Protect the family match” and “Stand with the family”.
Members of the anti-gay protesters chant slogans against the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community as they march along the streets in Nairobi.
Lawmaker, Irungu Kangata, told the demonstrators outside parliament that Obama has hailed the June U.S. Supreme Court decision to allow same-sex marriage.
He said only few shared his views in Kenya or other African countries where more socially and religiously conservative views generally prevail.
Kangata said African gay rights activists have called for Obama to show solidarity with them during his trip to Kenya and Ethiopia, scheduled to start on July 25.
“When Obama comes to Kenya this month and tries to bring the abortion agenda; the gay agenda we shall tell him to shut up and go home”, he said.
In most of Africa’s 54 countries, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people have to hide their sexual orientation for fear of persecution or criminal prosecution.
South Africa is the only African country that permits gay or lesbian marriage.
Deputy President, William Ruto, told a church congregation in May that Kenya had “no room for gays”.
The comment was made the same day that U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, arrived in Nairobi for talks.
Anti-gay remarks by African leaders often win public support but put them at odds with Western donors who provide valuable economic and other support to the continent. (Reuters/NAN
