NAIROBI: Deputy President William Ruto has warned anyone pushing for gay rights in Kenya, that they have no place in the country’s society.
Ruto scoffed at the United States (US) Supreme Court ruling that granted rights across American states for same sex marriages, saying the same will never be replicated locally
“The other day you heard that in America the court has ruled about homosexuality but in this country we will defend what is right and what our faith states,” he said.
The DP said Kenya is a God fearing nation and will never recognise anyone pushing gay and lesbian rights, asking those who want to practice the vice to look for other countries.
According to the Deputy President, an overwhelming majority are Christians whose faith only recognises marriage as a union between a man and a woman as ordained by God at creation.
“God did not create man and woman for a man to come and marry another man. We believe in God. This is a God-fearing nation and we will be firm on what is right,” he said.
Speaking at the AIC Ziwani church in Nairobi, during Sunday service, Ruto who was accompanied by his wife Rachel and four MPs from Nairobi County, asked Kenyans to be ready to defend what they believe it and not accept foreign practices.
“We will fight for and defend our country and faith. Those who want to engage in those things can go to those countries and not ours,” he added.
Nominated Senator Beth Mugo, MPs Maina Kamanda (Starehe), Dennis Waweru (Dagorreti South), John Ndirangu (Embakasi Central) and Nairobi County Assembly Minority Leader Hashim Kamau accompanied the DP.
Ruto becomes the senior most government official to hit out at the US court ruling, with his remarks coming only three weeks before US President Barack Obama arrives in Nairobi.
National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale sparked the debate over Obama’s visit to the country, vowing that the Jubilee Government will resist pressure to adopt same sex marriage policies.
Speaking last weekend, just like his boss Ruto, the URP MP said Kenya was “a God fearing nation” and that it will not be swayed to adopt policies that favour “irreligious unions”.
President Obama is scheduled to visit Kenya for the Global Leadership Summit to be held in Nairobi on July 25-26.
“We want to tell Obama that if one of the agendas of his visit is to push for the adoption of same sex marriage, we won’t accept. As a Muslim and a leader in the Jubilee administration I must tell the President the truth about issues that are dear to the Muslim community and I am happy that he (President) listens,” said Duale.
