President Ruto directs Attorney-General to file petition challenging Supreme Court ruling on LGBTQ right

President William Ruto. [File, Standard]

President William Ruto says Attorney-General Justin Muturi will in coming days' file petition at Supreme Court to have ruling on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) right reviewed.

Speaking during a church service at Kapsabet Showground in Nandi County on Sunday, March 19, 2023, Ruto reiterated that Kenya is a God-fearing nation and would not encourage such corrupt morals.

"The Attorney-General Justin Muturi, on behalf of the government will be moving to court seeking a review of the LGBTQ ruling by the Supreme Court on Friday, February 24, 2023. Kenya is a God-fearing nation and we will not accept foreign ideologies to be imposed on us," said Ruto.

"We will not accept to be manipulated to embrace foreign cultures that are not beneficial to our people. Kenya is a democratic country whose values and doctrines must be upheld."

The Supreme Court of Kenya on Friday, February 24 ruled that the NGO Board's decision to bar homosexuals from forming recognised groups is discriminatory.

The court stated that despite homosexuality being illegal in Kenya, members of the LGBTQ still have a right of association.

Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu, Justice Smokin Wanjala and Justice Njoki Ndung'u ruled in the majority side on the issue.

Justice Mohamed Ibrahim and William Ouko dissented, stating that homosexuals shouldn't be allowed to form recognised associations in Kenya.

The ruling now gives members of the LGBTQ community the power to seek formal recognition by the Non-Governmental Organizations Co-ordination Board.

On November 23, 2021 the Supreme Court heard the case challenging decisions of the High Court and Court of Appeal to allow the Kenyan National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (NGLHRC) to be officially registered as a non-governmental organisation (NGO).