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((PLAYBOOK SLUG: KENYA LGBTQ RIGHTS (TV/R)
HEADLINE: Verdict Allowing Registration of LGBTQ Groups Stirs Debate in Kenya
TEASER: Homosexual relations remain illegal in Kenya and one lawmaker is pushing a bill to increase the maximum punishment for anyone found guilty to life in prison
PUBLISHED: 3/8/23
BYLINE: Juma Majanga
DATELINE: Nairobi, Kenya
VIDEOGRAPHER: Amos Wangwa
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: DLJ, MAS
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO _x_
TRT:
VID APPROVED BY:
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO)) A ruling by Kenya's Supreme Court allowing registration of LGBTQ association has been hailed as a step forward in gay rights. But homosexual relations are illegal in Kenya and one lawmaker is pushing a bill to increase the maximum punishment for anyone found guilty to life in prison. Juma Majanga reports from Nairobi, Kenya.
((VIDEO-VOA: MP PETER KALUMA AT HIS OFFICE-various))
((NARRATOR))
Peter Kaluma is busy in his Nairobi office preparing to file for a review of a recent Supreme Court ruling that allows the registration of LGBTQ associations in Kenya.
The parliament member says LGBTQ individuals have no rights in Kenya under the constitution. He also has introduced a bill increasing the maximum punishment for anyone found guilty of same-sex relations to death.
((Peter Kaluma, Parliament Member in Kenya (English, 34 secs))
“Currently under the current law, if homosexuals, the people who engage in homosexuality do so by consent, the punishment is seven years. Where one if forced or coerced to engage in homosexuality, the punishment is fourteen years. But that has not sufficiently deterred these homosexuals. And so, we are increasing penalty. In some cases, it will be life imprisonment. In cases where there is no consent, we are going to institute death penalty! And that is going to be very explicit in this law.”
((VIDEO-VOA: KENYA’S SUPREME COURT, JUDGES-various))
((NARRATOR))
Last month’s majority ruling from Kenya’s Supreme Court sparked a debate in the country. The hashtag #SayNoToLGBTQinKENYA trended for days following the ruling, with criticism led by President William Ruto.
((VIDEO-(COURTESY) STATE HOUSE: - WOMEN’S DAY CELEBRATION))
((William Ruto, President of Kenya (Swahili, 18 secs))
((Courtesy: State House))
“In our country Kenya, we have culture and norms, and we respect our constitution. We respect the different religions in our country. We cannot go the road of women marrying fellow women and men marrying fellow men. That can never happen in our country Kenya.”
((VIDEO-VOA: CHURCH SESSION, CHRISTIAN FAITHFULS IN CHURCH-various))
((NARRATOR))
Religious leaders blame what they call “unchecked freedoms” in the constitution for the ruling by the country’s top court.
((Radio track: Rev. Calisto Odede is the presiding bishop of Christ is the Answer Ministries.))
((Rev. Calisto Odede, Bishop of Christ Is The Answer Ministries (English, 22 secs))
“It’s one of those areas on freedom of association, without limits that the Supreme Court used to issue an order to the body that is registering NGOs to register gay movements, that they have a right to association.”
(VIDEO-VOA: LGBTQ MEMBER IN INTERVIEW-various))
((NARRATOR))
The LGBTQ community in Kenya and rights advocates have hailed the high court’s ruling as a step forward in gay rights.
((Radio track: Petite, as she wishes to be called is a member of the LGBTQ community in Nairobi.))
((“Petite”, LGBTQ Member (Swahili, 26 secs))
“The ruling will empower us and give us fair spaces. It will allow those who have been hiding in fear to come out and to register as a rainbow community. Being recognized is important, because our members have faced attacks and some even killed.”
((VIDEO-VOA: CHURCH SESSSION, SUPREME COURT JUDGES IN SESSION-various))
((NARRATOR))
In Kenya, first lady Rachel Ruto has volunteered to lead national prayers against homosexuality in the country.
Meanwhile, many Western countries have legalized same-sex relations in recent decades, and just last month, the Church of England allowed a blessing ceremony for same-sex couples.
((Rev. Calisto Odede, Bishop of Christ Is The Answer Ministries (English, 15 secs))
“Tolerance in sections of the world does not make it right. It simply says that that community or the group that are making it acceptable are groups who have followed the culture rather than who are setting a trend for the culture to follow.”
((VIDEO-VOA: MP PETER KALUMA, SUPREME COURT IS SESSION-various))
((NARRATOR))
While the Kenyan constitution guarantees right to freedom of association, same-sex relations remain illegal in the country.
((Juma Majanga, for VOA News, Nairobi))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateMarch 9, 2023 11:11 EST
BylineJuma Majanga
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
