• The clerics said that the apex court judges overlooked the cultures of Kenyans
• The path the judges have set for the country will live to haunt them, they said
Image: JOHN KAMAU
Clerics in Kiambu have faulted the Supreme Court ruling that allowed the NGO Coordination Board to register the LGBTQ community.
Led by Bishop David Thagana of Glory Outreach Assembly, the clerics on Saturday said the Supreme Court judges overlooked the morals and cultures of Kenyan communities while making the ruling.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday threw out an application by Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma that sought to challenge the court ruling on the registration of an LGBTQ lobby group and the definition of sex as used in the case.
In his application before the Supreme Court, dated March 9, 2023, MP Kaluma asked the court to stay the orders allowing the NGO Coordination Board (listed as 1st respondent) to register members of the LGBTQ community.
The MP also contested the February 24 judgement, where the court laid down the use of the word 'sex' under Article 27(4) of the Constitution to refer to ‘sexual orientation of any gender’, whether heterosexual, lesbian, gay, intersex or otherwise.
"The court found and decreed that the use of the word 'sex' under Article 27(4) of the Constitution ‘refers also to sexual orientation of any gender, whether heterosexual, lesbian, gay, intersex or otherwise’,” stated the court documents.
"And that the word 'including' under Article 27 (4) also comprises 'freedom from discrimination based on a person’s sexual orientation'."
Clerics in Kiambu said the court’s decision will lead to moral decay in the society and mislead innocent youths who are being lured into the community.
The clerics are under the Federation of Evangelical and Indigenous Christian Churches of Kenya.
“It was very wrong for the court to give a nod to registration of the group that practises ungodly acts,” Thagana said.
"LGBTQ is unacceptable in our community and as a church, we strongly oppose it.
"We are worried that the court is legalising the vice, which will only lead to moral decadence among our youths."
He spoke at Kahawa Wendani, Ruiru subcounty during a mentorship session for university students who are supported by Glory Outreach Assembly at the church.
The bishop said the ruling went against the Constitution, which banned homosexuality, adding that the church will not allow any formation of such groups.
“I wonder how the judges who stamped the ruling would feel seeing their children, grandchildren or great grandchildren engaging in same-sex marriages,” Thagana said.
"The path they have set for the country will live to haunt them and history will judge them."
The bishop called on the Judiciary to ensure that rulings made by the courts do not undermine the morals of the Kenyan communities.
Pr Mary Wangechi said immorality cases are likely to spike.
Wangechi called on the church and parents across the country to mentor the young generation and help them lead decent lives without engaging in immoral acts.
At the same time, the clerics raised concerns over the high cost of living, which they said is oppressing millions of Kenyans.
Thagana said uiversity students are the most affected by the high cost of living, saying that most are facing hard times to even access basic needs.
“The cost of basic amenities has skyrocketed and most Kenyans and especially university students are facing an uphill task in accessing them,” Thagana said.
"This is one of the reasons why innocent students are engaging in antisocial vices like homosexuality and petty crimes. We are pleading for hasty government interventions to cushion Kenyans from the high cost of living."
The students, led by Leah Wanjiru, pleaded with the government to intervene and bring down the cost of living, saying it has overwhelmed them and their parents.
Wanjiru said the situation has been exacerbated by the increased university fees, which she said is putting their studies' completion in jeopardy.
“Things are tough and that’s why most students are engaging in vices like drugs and substance abuse, alcoholism, crimes and even homosexuality,” she said.
"The government should swiftly intervene and address the high cost of living."