President William Ruto has announced that the Kenyan government will seek a review of the Supreme Court’s decision on LGBTQ rights in the country.
Ruto stated during a church service at Kapsabet Showground in Nandi County that Attorney General Justin Muturi will represent the government in court to ensure that Kenya’s constitution is upheld.
“As a government, we know that some matters were decided by the Supreme Court on the LGBTQ issue. I want to assure you that the Attorney General on behalf of the Kenyan government, will go to court to ask the court to review that so we know where the constitution of Kenya comes in,” Ruto said.
Ruto acknowledged that the Supreme Court had already made a decision on LGBTQ rights, but emphasised that the government would not be swayed by external influences on issues where the constitution is clear.
“We will not accept to be influenced on issues that the constitution is clear about,” he added.
He added that the government was committed to defending the country’s values and principles, and that the Supreme Court’s decision needed to be reviewed to ensure that the constitution was not undermined.
In February, the Supreme Court ruled that everyone has the right to associate and chastised the government for failing to register an LGBTQ+ association.
According to the court, this decision violated their rights and violated Article 36 of Kenya’s constitution, which guarantees freedom of association.
The refusal of the NGOs Coordination Board to register the lobby group, according to the court, would violate human rights based on sexual orientation.
LGBTQ+ activists who have been fighting for recognition and protection for over a decade hailed the ruling as a bittersweet victory.
However, it sparked a backlash from religious leaders, politicians, and members of the public who saw it as an affront to Kenya’s culture and morality.
