Kenyan politicians respond to Obama plea by forming new anti-gay group
Politicians in Kenya have criticised US President Barack Obama after he warned Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni not to sign the country’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill.
Last Friday, President Museveni signalled that he was ready to sign the draconian measure.
In a statement on Sunday, President Obama said signing the bill would mark a “step backward”.
Ignoring his plea to respect human rights across Africa, around 20 Kenyan politicians have formed a political group against homosexuality, demanding stricter enforcement of anti-gay legislation and more convictions.
They have summed the country’s attorney general to give evidence in Parliament.
“It is a reaction to a push by the Western countries for the relaxation of anti-gays law, that’s what really inspired us,” said member Irungu Kang’ata to Bloomberg.
Neither “Obama, nor other outsiders have the right to dictate our laws as a sovereign country,” Mr Kang’ata added.
Consensual sexual activity between men is illegal under Kenyan law and carries a maximum penalty of 14 years’ imprisonment.
Human Rights Watch say the law is rarely enforced.
“The law has rarely, if ever, led to a conviction in Kenya, meaning fear of arrest by police has been relatively low, said Ms Ghoshal.”
“You see there are strong activist communities and that has provided a degree of freedom,” she added.
