AG Muturi says to challenge Supreme Court ruling on LGBTQ community

Attorney General Justin Muturi has said he will head to the Supreme Court to challenge the ruling allowing the registration of LGBTQ NGOs.

On Friday, the Supreme Court said that the decision to deny LGBTQ members their right to register as an NGO, despite homosexuality being illegal in the nation, was discriminatory.

This followed a ruling made in 2013 by lower courts to deny members of the community in Kenya to register a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) for the advancement of their rights.

Muturi who spoke on Sunday at a church in Manyatta, Embu County, said that Kenyans ought to be allowed to state their opinion over the issue of LGBTQ people since it weighs on life.

He said the debate must be taken outside the church and Kenyans invited to give their input.

The AG said that the country has its values and in the interest of the public, he will be seeking full bench of Supreme Court to address itself over the matter.

Other leaders who attended the thanksgiving service include Kiambu Woman Representative Ann Wamuratha, who said the ruling was in conflict with constitution.

Wamuratha said she will be also tabling a motion in parliament to seeking amend of Sexual Act.

Friday’s ruling has been met with backlash from members of the church. Clerics from the Redeemed Gospel Church of Kenya have condemned the ruling, saying that the LGBTQ lobby groups should not even be allowed in Kenya.

Archbishop Arthur Kitonga said that allowing such can bring curses to the country since it amounts to breaking the laws of God. 

CITAM presiding bishop Calisto Odede on his part questioned the Apex court's ruling, likening LGBTQ persons to what he called “illegal practitioners” such as pedophiles.  

"This rather contradictory ruling has left many of us wondering whether other illegal practitioners like paedophiles and those involved in incest also have right of association and if not, how different they are from homosexuals. And perhaps criminal organisations as well," he said in a statement.

Bishop Odede affirmed that the church will not cower from condemning such rulings, arguing that encouraging homosexual behaviour wrecks the cultural norms of Africa and stands against Christian doctrines.