Roots party leader George Wajackoyah now says homosexuality will not be entertained in the country by leaders of the Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya coalition.
Speaking during the coalition's anti-government rally in Migori on Friday, March 10, Wajackoyah claimed that the recent Supreme Court ruling that allowed the gay community in the country to register their own association was influenced by President William Ruto's interaction with leaders from some western countries.
He said Azimio leaders will pass legislation to prohibit any form of gay-related activities in the country when Raila forms government.
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"I want to tell the Americans because I'm married to one of them that when Raila will take over the government we shall pass legislation to do away with homosexuality," Wajackoyah said.
"I will never support homosexuality myself," he added.
The former presidential candidate, who became a household name in the last election over his promise to legalise cannabis sativa (bhang), also urged Raila to decriminalise the substance when he finally assumes the highest office in the land.
Wajackoyah insisted that the former prime minister was rigged out in the August 9th, 2022, poll and joined other leaders in demanding electoral justice in the country.
The opposition declared mass action yesterday after the lapse of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the government to address runaway inflation and electoral injustice.
"We launch a campaign of defiance, peaceful protests and demonstrations. It begins today and now. We urge the victims of the retrogressive policies of this illegitimate regime to join this political revolution. We are stronger together," Raila said at a press conference in Nairobi yesterday.
Raila's stand on homosexuality
Early this month, Raila condemned the Supreme Court ruling, accusing the Judiciary of overstepping its mandate by trying to make laws when it is supposed to be the arbiter.
The Apex court had said that the decision to deny gay members their right to register non-governmental organisations (NGOs), despite homosexuality being illegal in the nation, was discriminatory.
“We condemn in very strong terms and totally reject the ruling by the Supreme Court on the alleged rights of the LGBTQ community, which ruling amounts to usurpation of the role of Parliament to make laws that are consistent with the ideals, culture and traditions of our people. Consequently, we call upon our houses of Parliament to seize this matter and stop this invasion and erosion of our ways of life by traditions that are strange and unacceptable to us,” Raila said.
“We have three arms of government, Parliament, Executive and Judiciary. Parliament is supposed to make laws, among other duties, the Executive is to offer services according to the laws, and the Judiciary is supposed to interpret the laws. They (Judiciary) cannot make new laws,” he added.
President Ruto, on his part, said Kenya has values that must be respected.
Speaking during International Women’s Day celebrations at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi on March 2, Ruto maintained that Kenya is a deeply religious nation and same-sex unions "will not happen under my watch".
“I cannot allow our women to get competition from men who chase after men. That will not happen under my watch,” the President stated.
He went on: “We have our cultures and traditions; we respect our Constitution and all our religions. We cannot travel the road of women marrying women, or men marrying men. That won’t happen in Kenya.”
Ruto challenged religious leaders to take a firm stand in the fight against the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) agenda, which is being propagated on various platforms.
Ruto said that although he respects court decisions, he was opposed to same-sex relationships.
“You know me very well. I am a God-fearing man and whatever happened at the court, even if we respect the court, our culture, values, Christianity and Islam cannot allow women to marry each other, or men to marry fellow men,” he said.
“I want to ask our religious leaders to stand firm and educate our children, our people, so that we don’t lose our beliefs and way of life to foreign practices,” the President added.
