US Funding Not Pegged On Gays Stance

By: Joseph Mutua Ndonga

Worth Noting:

• The Americans allegedly listed this as the core condition for approving the future funding.
• Notably, the Supreme Court delivered its ruling at a time when Dr Jill Biden, spouse of the US president Joe Biden, was visiting Kenya.
• The timing heightened the speculation as her visit coincided with the approval of US aid totalling to Ksh16 billion.
• For the Azimio leader and his brigade, this provided them with the political fodder aimed at casting the President and his Deputy in bad light.

A day after President William Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua denounced the Supreme Court verdict that cleared the way for the registration of LGBTQ+ community, the US ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman broke her silence and clarified that the US aid to Kenya is not tied to the matter.

Though the position of my government is that gay rights are human rights, we equally respect the position of the countries which disagree with us on this matter.

This comes as reports appearing in a section of mainstream media and social media indicated that the US government was piling pressure on developing countries to accept and embrace same sex marriages.

The Americans allegedly listed this as the core condition for approving the future funding.

Notably, the Supreme Court delivered its ruling at a time when Dr Jill Biden, spouse of the US president Joe Biden, was visiting Kenya.

The timing heightened the speculation as her visit coincided with the approval of US aid totalling to Ksh16 billion.

For the Azimio leader and his brigade, this provided them with the political fodder aimed at casting the President and his Deputy in bad light.

To me, dragging the names of duo is an exercise in futility.

Judiciary is an independent arm of the government. As such, the President has no power to interfere or direct the judges on how to do thier job.

Again, in her response while in Kajiado, the US position of US envoy was very clear.

Dr Jill Biden’s visit and 16bn aid had nothing to do with the matters related to gays.

She recalled Kenya has had a cordial relation with US dating back to many years ago.

I want to assure Kenyans that the bilateral ties remain strong and intact.

We are committed to continue working with your government. Our main interest is to engage in activities that will promote and uplift the standard and conditions of our people.

She, however, reiterated that US democratic values differ sharply with Kenya on gays matters.

For us, we consider matters of sexual orientation and same sex marriages as human rights.

For you, you consider these relationships as satanic and bad omen.

This position is rooted in your traditions, culture beliefs and more importantly Christian values.

In his speech during the International Women’s day, President Ruto vowed.

Take it from me, the same sex marriages will never be practiced in Kenya under my watch.

These practices are ungodly and hence totally contradict and flew in the face of Biblical teachings.

As Christians, we cannot accept them.

DP Gachagua stated; I was extremely shocked when I heard the determination of judges of the apex court on this matter.

At first, I lacked words to express my disgust, anger and disappointment.

This decision was made by people who never believed in God. The Satan was at work.

Surely, how can you support a relationship where a woman marries a woman and a man marries a man. This is madness of the highest order. It will never happen in Kenya.

Notably, a bench of five judges set to hear the case had split.  Three ruled in favor of LGBTQI groups and the two totally refused to grant them with power to register thier organization.

The two who opposed argued. Moral values were at core and are key pillars of our laws and constitution.

The behaviors and practices of LGBTQ+ groups sharply undermine and contradicts these values.

So, the prayers sought were null and void.

As a Christian, allow me to give the Biblical perspective.

God first created a man and then created a woman from his rib.

He pronounced the woman becomes man’s helper and the two recreate and fill the world.

So, in the eyes of God, the acts of those subscribing to same sex marriages amount blasphemy. Such people are sinners and will never see the kingdom of God, unless they repent.

For now, the Kenyan parliament holds the key to reversing the decision of the Supreme Court of Kenya.

As the law making body, the house has the power to trim the absolute powers enjoyed by Apex court.

This court and other arms of government are created by the people via the constitution.

Bouyed by this, parliament can reject that ruling and consequently enact a new punitive law that criminalizes LGBTQ+ groups. The new law should treat those engaging in this vice as capital offenders.

For now, these groups have a right to register their organization. This is because the Supreme Court decision still remains in force.

Joseph Mutua Ndonga is a writer and political analyst based in Nairobi