President-elect William Ruto has sent an ambiguous message to members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ+).
Speaking during an interview with CNN on Wednesday, September 7, 2022, Ruto demanded mutual respect while speaking about the rights of LGBTQ+ community in Kenya.
“On LGBTQ, I am very clear that we respect everybody and what they believe in, but we also have what we believe in and we expect to be respected for what we believe in,” he said.
Kenya’s constitution forbids homosexuality in its entirety. Ruto’s sentiments about respecting the rights of LGBTQ+ puts him at crossroads with the law since the president being the custodian of the constitution.
The Kenyan Penal Code, which dates back to the British colonial period, holds liable to imprisonment any person involved in “unnatural offences” or “carnal knowledge against the order of nature” (up to 14 years), and any males involved in “indecent practices” (up to five years).
Kenya’s Penal Code, which criminalises same-sex activity, remain intact especially following a High Court ruling in May 2019 which rejected a petition calling for the decriminalisation of homosexuality in the country.
Only a handful of celebrities like Sauti Sol’s Chimano have publicly come out to identify as gay.
Related: Hakuna Kujificha Tena! Why Sauti Sol Singer Willis Chimano Was Forced To Come Out As Gay
