Clergy, MPs uproar over global population forum set for city

A United Nations-backed international conference slated to take place in Nairobi next week has attracted uproar among sections of Kenyans who have protested that the meeting will drum up support for homosexuality.

Religious leaders have joined parliamentarians in opposing the country’s hosting of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD25), claiming it was tailored to introduce ideologies and practices that are against the African culture and the religious heritage.

The much publicised conference according to advertisements that have been running in the dailies, is organised by Kenya and Denmark governments, in conjunction with the United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA), is shrouded in mystery, despite efforts by organisers to demystify the notion that it was meant to promote questionable sexual orientations.

African culture

President Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday waded into the topic, clarifying that the government will agree with organisers of ICPD25 on some issues, such as need to end female genital mutilation (FGM) and that Kenyans will not accept deliberations on matters contrary to African culture.

“Next week, we have visitors here who will discuss varied topics. We shall agree on issues of fighting gender-based violence and FGM, but if they bring issues against our African culture then we shall not agree with them,” said President Kenyatta in State House Nairobi.

A few kilometres away from where the President was speaking, the house of Catholic Bishops was expressing their stern opposition to the forum scheduled to take place between Tuesday and Thursday.

Under the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) umbrella body, about 20 religious leaders led by Archbishop of Nairobi John Cardinal Njue, jointly said they did not believe in the issues on the conference’s agenda, even urging the President not to show support for the meeting.

In a statement read by KCCB chairperson, Kisumu Archbishop Rev Philip Anyolo, the Church protested that the summit’s agenda had been cunningly crafted to mislead Kenyans into believing that it was aimed at empowering women and girls.

“We reject introduction of ideologies centered on gender and other alien practices that go against our African culture and our religious heritage,” said Archbishop Anyolo.

Archbishop Martin Kivuva of Mombasa said the Catholic Church was opposed to discussions demonising the increasing population in the country, saying it was guided by misinformed arguments. “There are claims that poverty is due to high population, which is untrue. When we work with a big population, we promote more development,” said Rev Kivuva.

But the organisers of the conference have denied that the forum was being held for any sinister talk.

Similar conference

Josephine Mbae, Director General of the National Council for Population and Development, said the meeting was only a way of enquiring into how far the country had gone in meeting objectives it created in the last similar conference held in Cairo, Egypt.

“We are simply asking ourselves whether we have kept the promise that we made alongside 178 other countries in Cairo 25 years ago,” said Dr Mbae.

The opposition by bishops comes after the National Assembly declined to allow the parliamentary caucus of the conference to use their chambers for debate, claiming this would defile the sanctity of the house.

Under the leadership of Speaker Justin Muturi, MPs declined to adjourn their sittings next week to allow their chambers to be used by legislators from other countries who will be attending the conference.

Yesterday, Bondo MP Gideon Ochanda, who is part of Kenya’s organising team, told the Saturday Standard that MPs rushed to make their conclusions on what was to be discussed without acquainting themselves with the agenda.

“My colleagues became emotional over the matter. There is nothing as such lined up for debate. Personally, I would not allow such matters to be debated in our hallowed chambers,” Mr Ochanda said.