MOMBASA, Kenya, Sep 15 – A mega anti-gay demonstration took place in the streets of Mombasa after the Friday 1pm (Dhuhur) Muslim prayers.
Hundreds of people; Mombasa residents, politicians, religious leaders and lobby organizations drawn from all the six sub counties of Mombasa participated in the demonstration.
They strongly opposed the Tuesday’s Supreme Court decision that gave a green light that the lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender and queers and intersex (LGBTQI) community to associate.
In its controversial decision, the Supreme Court upheld the right of the National Gay and Lesbian Rights Commission to register as a nongovernmental organization (NGO).
In Mombasa, the anti-LGBTQ movement said they have been receiving threats from the NGOs that support gay rights in the country.
Salim Karama, the Mombasa anti-LGBTQ movement chairperson, said they have been accused of inciting the public against the homosexuals.
“We have now been branded ‘terrorists’ and being accused of planning to kill the homosexuals by inciting the public against them. These numerous letters and threats by NGOs will not stop us from fighting against this vice. We will not relent,” said Karama.
He said their movement is made up of rights activists, religious leaders, women and youth leader and the region’s residents.
“Do you see any terrorists here?” he posed.
Mombasa elected politicians, majority who are Muslims, did not participate in the demonstrations.
Nyali MP Mohammed Ali and a few Members of County Assembly (MCAs) participated.
Ali asked why the issue of LGBTQ is being propagated so much in the country.
He questioned the rationale the Supreme Court judges used to allow the LGBTQ community to associate, whereas Kenyan constitution is against homosexuality.
“We will respect the foreign policy between Kenyan and other countries, but we will not allow them to push their agenda (of LGBTQ),” said Ali.
He called out his fellow legislators and Mombasa politicians to come out and declare their stand on the matter.
‘If you are a Christian follow your Christian teachings, if you are Muslim, then follow Islamic teachings. We must protect our city and country,’ he said.
