By Aoma Keziah,
Africa CitizenGO has called on President William Ruto and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to address what they described as a troubling move by Kenya at the United Nations.
Speaking on behalf of over twelve thousand Kenyans who signed a petition delivered this week, Anne Kioko, Africa Campaign Director at CitizenGO, urged the government to explain why the country supported the renewal of the UN Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) mandate during a vote held on July 5.
In the letter sent to the President and the ministry, CitizenGO argues that the decision to back the mandate contradicts the country’s constitutional recognition of the family as the core unit of society. The petition says the vote was cast without public involvement and fails to reflect the views of many Kenyans who hold deeply rooted religious and cultural values.
Kioko said the mandate, which aims to monitor discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, has in practice been used to push policies that CitizenGO believes clash with local traditions and faith-based convictions. She pointed out that even some Western countries, including the United States, did not endorse the renewal.
“The people who signed this appeal feel blindsided and betrayed, they want the President to make it clear that Kenya’s support for the SOGI mandate does not mean our nation is abandoning its principles,” she stated.
The petition urges the President to issue a statement clarifying the country’s position and, if possible, to formally distance Kenya from the vote. It argues that under UN rules, governments can submit explanations or corrections after the fact a step CitizenGO says would reassure Kenyans that the Constitution and local values still guide national decisions.
Kioko, who has long campaigned on issues related to family and religious freedom, says her team will keep pressing for clarity.
“This is about more than one vote, it’s about who we are as a people and what we want for our children,” she continued to say.
So far, neither State House nor the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has responded publicly to the appeal. CitizenGO plans to keep gathering signatures while waiting for a reply from the government.
Mt Kenya Times