Kenyan PM Odinga orders nationwide arrest of homosexuals

[News_Editor]

Kenyan PM Odinga orders nationwide arrest of homosexuals

2010-11-29 23:26:29 GMT+7 (ICT)

NAIROBI, KENYA (BNO NEW) — Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Sunday ordered a nationwide arrest spree against homosexuals, prompting activists' anger and criticism, local media reported on Monday.

Odinga called on police forces to arrest anyone found engaged in homosexual practices and take 'appropriate' legal action against them.

"We will not tolerate such behaviors in the country," Odinga said at a public rally in the Kamukunji area of his Kibera constituency in Nairobi. "The constitution is very clear on this issue and men or women found engaging in homosexuality will not be spared."

"Any man found engaging in sexual activities with another man should be arrested. Even women found engaging in sexual activities [with other women] will be arrested," Odinga added, citing the recent population census results which put the ratio of men to women equal and questioned why people should engage in homosexuality.

"This [homosexual] kind of behaviors will not be tolerated in this country. Men or women found engaging in those acts deserve to be arrested and will be arrested," he reiterated.

Furthermore, Odinga told the crowd that Kenyans did not buy same sex marriage 'propaganda' as campaigns for the new Constitution failed miserably.

"Those were lies from leaders who wanted to confuse Kenyans to reject the new law; the Constitution is very clear on that matter. It does not state anywhere that same sex marriage is legal in Kenya," he stated.

Meanwhile, David Kuria of the Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya (GLCK) told the BBC that the Odinga's comments left him 'full of sadness.' "We thought in this country we had made a lot of headway," Kuria said. "People will succumb to extortion, blackmail and violence."

In February, five people were arrested near the resort of Mombasa after reports said they were trying to organize a gay wedding, sparking local protests. Homosexuality is illegal in Kenya, which can be punishable with up to 14 years in prison.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2010-11-29

[Suradit]

PM backtracks about gay folk in Kenya

Kenyan Prime Miniser

Raila OdingaNAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 2 - Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Thursday denied that he had ordered a nationwide crackdown on homosexuals but maintained that such unions were illegal.

He argued that he was misquoted and that his statements were not meant to victimise anyone because: "I understand there are gay rights."

The Premier, who was speaking during the opening session of the review on Kenya's progress two years after the National Dialogue and Reconciliation Accord was signed, also argued that he was only highlighting some of the half truths that were used during the referendum campaigns

.

This story is from Capital News