Edward Onwong’a Nyakeriga, the Republican Liberty Party’s (RLP) Legal Secretary has tabled a draft bill in the National Assembly, which if press reports are correct, and if passed, would allow for the stoning to death in public of foreigners who commit homosexual acts in Kenya. Kenyan gays would only get life imprisonment for the same offence.

The RLP’s argument is that homosexuality is unnatural and must be legislated against.

ANTI-HOMOSEXUALITY BILL BEFORE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

The Anti-Homosexuality Bill would criminalise sodomy and prohibit all same-sex relationships. The Bill also introduces “Aggravated homosexuality” as a crime, which would include committing a homosexual act with a minor, or where the offender is HIV+.

Speaker Justin Muturi has now sent the draft Bill to the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee for consideration before it is sent back to the House of Assembly.

“NEED TO PROTECT CHILDREN” SAYS NYAKERIGA

“There is need to protect children and youth who are vulnerable to sexual abuse and deviation as a result of cultural changes, uncensored information technology, parentless-child developmental settings and increasing attempts by homosexuals to raise children in homosexual relationships, foster care or otherwise,” Mr Nyakeriga says in his petition.

STONING TO DEATH IN THE 21ST CENTURY?

The Kenya Forum knows that many Kenyans are “against homosexuality”, many for example believing it to be against the teachings of the Bible and the Koran, and it is true also that many Western countries do not understand the depth of feeling on the subject among Kenyans.

The Kenya Forum is also most certainly against any sexual abuse of, or sexual act involving a minor, or indeed against any sexually abusive act.

However, Kenyan law already provides sanctions to punish sexual abuse, paedophilia, rape and knowingly infecting someone with HIV.

The Kenya Forum asks, are we really even going to consider stoning someone to death, in public, in the 21st Century, for any offence?