The liberal push to force LGBTQ anti-values worldwide is meeting strong resistance in the African nation of Kenya. The traditionalist push-back is led by Christians and Muslims, who recently joined together to petition the country's parliament for an inquiry into the proliferation of LGBT indoctrination in Kenya.
On February 1, 2024, the Christian and Muslim petitioners asserted that the Constitution of Kenya 2010, which vests sovereign authority in the people, grants citizens the right to petition Parliament on matters within its authority. They express alarm over what they perceive as orchestrated attempts to challenge laws prohibiting homosexuality and other “unnatural acts.” The petitioners argue that such efforts not only threaten the moral fabric of Kenyan society but also question the constitutional right to equality before the law.
The petitioners say that recent court decisions, particularly the one in Non-Governmental Organizations Co-ordination Board v. Erick Gitari representing the LGBTQI+ movement & 5 Others, have stretched the boundaries of judicial authority by potentially paving the way for the legalisation of same-sex unions in Kenya. The petitioners express the need for corrective measures to safeguard the traditional family structure.
“If this judgement is not remedied, there will be a drastic negative impact on the family in Kenya. It sets the pace for the legalization of same-sex unions in Kenya,” says lead lawyer Charles Kanjama.
The petition raises concerns about the infiltration of LGBT content into the Kenyan education system. The petitioners point to examples in Grade 4 books, highlighting what they describe as “less than subtle depictions of gay relationships.” They argue that this constitutes an attack on future generations, urging Parliament to investigate and take action against unsanctioned publishers and distributors of such material.
The petition also draws attention to foreign non-state actors lobbying for changes to Kenya’s penal laws, aiming to decriminalise acts such as homosexuality. The petitioners fear a slippery slope that the country may struggle to recover from if these efforts go unchallenged.
Lastly, the petition underscores ongoing recruitment efforts into the LGBT agenda through seemingly harmless programs on campuses and in higher learning institutions. The petitioners argue that parliamentary intervention is necessary to curb what they see as activities contributing to moral decay.
In response to these concerns, the petition calls on Parliament to inquire into various aspects, including the infiltration of LGBT content into curricula, the Ministry of Health’s position on sexual health and rights, foreign actor funding and lobbying, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection’s plans to safeguard the family, and the enforcement of existing Penal Code provisions.