Event:

The Standard Newspaper of 1^st August 2013 reported that the National Association of Human Rights Activists (NAHRA) now wants all laws that discriminate lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) repealed. The association admitted that LGBTI persons were on the increase in the country and it is time their rights were recognized. Association chairman Ken Wafula expressed concern over laws that inhibit the rights of the LGBTI.

Commentary:

The gay community is working day and night to transform itself from a fringe group to one that enjoys official legitimacy from the government and Kenyans in general. Today, this community has found representation in legitimate government-run organizations formed to fight HIV, ostensibly to highlight the plight of homosexual people afflicted by HIV. It is believed one of the reasons for this sudden interest is to have a share of billions that come from state programmes to tackle HIV and promote awareness in Kenya and also from gay lobbies elsewhere. Many gay men in both Nairobi (62 per cent) and Kisumu (52 per cent) identify their sexual identity as gay. "This is clear indication that the number of gay men is either on the increase, or more men are coming out," says Dr Nicholas Muraguri who is the former head of the National Aids and STI's Control Programme (NASCOP). In May, France became the 14th country to legalize gay marriage while in the same month, 11 girls were charged with bestiality in Mombasa for practicing unethical acts with a canine. Similarly, a group came forward to claim the so called 'gay rights' arguing that because they are endangered minority species, they may soon become extinct so they should legally be allowed to flourish!

If one is opposed to legalizing gay marriage, it is automatically assumed that the opposition rests on a basis of hate, homophobia, or other such negative motivations. Indeed, opposition to gay marriage in some Western countries is harshly opposed because advocates have successfully framed the issue as one of equal rights. By this logic, they argue that if you oppose gay marriage, you are opposed to equal rights for everyone. It should also be remembered that after a short-lived one-year stint as the United States envoy to Kenya, Ambassador Scott Gration resigned citing differences with the Obama Administration regarding his leadership style. The son of missionary parents, Gration made the big decision to quit just hours to a party for gays at the Embassy. The Embassy plays host to the gay community as an event that is part of the Obama Administration's policy to fight prejudice against lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. Similar events were held at US embassies around the world. Obama himself caused a stir earlier this month following his public endorsement of same-sex marriages especially on his tour to several African countries.

This is a clear indication that the corrupt Capitalist ideology and its evil Democratic system have failed to solve such social problems. In fact, they are to blame for harnessing such deviant behavior. Much as the statistics point to a grim picture in terms of HIV infections and the increasing number of gays, there is a hidden agenda behind all these. The Western countries who are champions of the principle of personal freedom have decided to export the problem so that it can be claimed it is not only found in their communities so as to save face and salvage their Democratic system. It is only Islam which can solve such social problems as the hukm for homosexuals is death and other stiffer punishments for deviant behaviours. Islam also provides a conducive environment which discourages individuals from engaging or viewing inappropriate material that incites endless passions in people.

Shabani Mwalimu

Media Representative Hizb ut Tahrir / East Africa