[Image courtesy: The Star]
The church in Kenya has demanded that President William Ruto recall the accreditation of the British High Commissioner in Kenya Neil Wigan over the hoisting of the LGBTQ flag in their offices last week.
In a statement, the Kenya Church Taskforce notes that the act is repugnant, offensive, uncouth, unpalatable and unbecoming in Kenya context further tainting the moral fiber and damages the doctrinal and religious beliefs of the country.
”The partnerships and collaborations between the two countries have been guided by other key instruments besides the continuity of trade agreement signed in 2020. They include aligning funding priorities with the country’s development priorities, respecting the country’s values, beliefs and culture and not using funding to impose on the country values, beliefs or priorities that while they may be of great import to the UK, they may not be the values or beliefs or the culture that Kenya espouses and may be considered as chemicals, foreign, repugnant and strange to Kenyans.” the statement reads.
It adds that both the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Minister of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi must and without fail conveys a message of indignation to the UK and subsequently makes a public statement on the matter indicating actions taken and made available to the Media in Nairobi and across the 47 counties
According to the church the hoisting violates the Constitution which outlines in Article 45(2) that Every adult has the right to marry a person of the opposite sex, based on free consent of the parties and makes no provision for LGBTQ and clearly states that marriage is between consenting adults of opposite sex.
”If the UK is willing to examine our instruments and our position and if it is willing to respect our position then it’s Nairobi office would know that what the world has as LGBTQ+ and its associated flag is repugnant, offensive, uncouth, unpalatable and unbecoming in Kenya context. We have in our possession the video evidence showing the hoisting of the LGBTQ+ flag at the British High Commission in Nairobi by the High Commissioner of the United Kingdom.” Statement adds.
The church task force has interpreted the move as a deliberate, considered and calculated move meant to test Kenya’s resolve, challenge its convictions and stretch hospitality of the AFrican nation.
Consequently the statement read as part that churches will jointly hold daily prayer vigils on the matter and call for special prayers until the matter is resolved to the church’s satisfaction.
This is the second time the embassy has hoisted the flag in their premises after the Supreme Court of Kenya allowed for the registration of the group in the country pegging its argument on the principles of association.