Why Obamas visit is causing jitters among the anti-gay legion

Why Obamas visit is causing jitters among the anti-gay legion

US President Barack Obama’s imminent visit seems to cause jitters among political and religious leaders opposed to same sex marriage.

The leaders, among them Deputy President William Ruto, Kigumo MP Jamleck Kamau among others have spoken of the country’s apparent stand against same sex marriage as they warned of resistance to push for the legalization of homosexuality in the country.

So dire is the issue that some religious leaders and a section of members of parliament are holding a protest against homosexuality on Monday.

The march is set to be flagged off by Bishop Mark Kariuki and will see participation by Kiharu MP Irungu Kingata among other MPs.

The current heebie-jeebies among political leaders and the silence undertones regarding the issue of homosexuality may have been oriented by the recent ruling by the US Supreme Court legalising same sex marriage in the county.

The ruling was widely celebrated by the White House which was lit up in rainbow colours and changed its twitter handle to reflect rainbow-coloured building with a tweet stating that “the ruling is a victory for America”

The US President was quoted by Reuters as hailing the Supreme Court ruling to allow same-sex marriage terming it a “thunderbolt” decision.

Speaking at the AIC Church at Ziwani in Nairobi, Deputy President William Ruto had warned that any legislation meant at legalizing gay marriage in Kenya will be shot down.

“Homosexuality is against the plan of God and should not be tolerated. God did not create man and woman so that men would marry men and women marry women.”

On his part, Kigumo MP Jamleck Kamau urged US President Barack Obama to respect Kenyans’ culture saying they would not compromise the longstanding traditions, which speak against same-sex marriages.

Freedom of speech on homosexuality

Manyatta MP John Muchiri has also cautioned President Obama against advocating for same sex marriage while in Kenya saying the US President should respect the Kenyan culture.

In what seemed to be an interesting twist, the State House through its spokesman Manoah Esipisu termed the debate a non-issue saying Kenya respects freedom of speech.

“As Kenyans we believe in Freedom of speech. We cannot tell Obama what he can or cannot say during his visit to Kenya,” he said.

President Obama is among few world leaders who have been vocal about same sex marriage.

In a statement during a fundraising in New York in 2012, Obama said “I want everyone treated fairly in this country. We have never gone wrong when we’ve extended rights and responsibilities to everybody.”

During his trip to Senegal in 2013, Obama called on African governments to give gay people equal rights by decriminalizing homosexual act, as quoted by BBC.

So far South Africa and Mozambique are the only African country that have legalised homosexuality.

President Obama is expected to visit the country, his father’s homeland, this month for the first time since becoming US President.

Obama will be in the country to attend the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) to be held from July 24 to 26 in Nairobi and is also expected to hold talks with Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta on bilateral relations between the two countries.

Whether he will touch on the subject or overlook it in totality during his visit to Kenya is now just a matter of mere speculation.

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