Kenya: No room for gays in our country
“We will not allow homosexuality in our society as it violates our religious and cultural beliefs.”
–Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto, speaking at a church service in Nairobi on Sunday, the Daily Mail reports.
Ruto made the remarks the day Secretary of State John Kerry landed in the African nation. “We will stand with religious leaders to defend our faith and our beliefs,” he said. “There’s no room for homosexuality in this country. That one I can assure you.”
Kerry issued a statement reaffirming America’s position on gay rights. “The US believes that all people are created equal and all people have rights, that includes people of every faith, every gender, every choice of partner, no matter who you love,” he told reporters.
Ruto is currently on trial in the International Criminal Court, charged with three counts of crimes against humanity during the nation’s 2007/08 elections. He is accused of participating in a fire at Kiambaa church in 2008 which killed 17 women and children who were seeking refuge in the building, with 11 more dying en route to hospital and 54 injured. In total. violence during the election period left 1,100 dead and 600,000 people displaced.
Homosexuality is illegal in Kenya, with sexual activity punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
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