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Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta Differs With Obama On Gay Issue

U.S President Barack Obama and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta have differed sharply in their positions on gay rights.

While Mr Obama spoke strongly against discrimination, Mr Kenyatta said gay rights is a non issue and that Kenya did not share the same values.

Obama made the remarks at a joint news conference he held at State House with President Uhuru Kenyatta on Saturday.

Uhuru said “ “There are some things that we must agree we don’t share,” he said. “Our culture, our societies don’t accept [homosexuality].”

Obama discussed the subject on his first full day in Kenya while drawing on his own background as an African-American in the U.S.

“If somebody is a law-abiding citizen who is going about their business and working in a job and obeying the traffic signs and doing all the other things that good citizens are supposed to do and not harming anybody, the idea that they are going to be treated differently or abused because of who they love is wrong,” Obama said.

However President Kenyatta said it was difficult to impose beliefs on the Kenyan people that they “do not accept.”

“This issue is not really an issue that is on the foremost mind of Kenyans and that is a fact,” he said.

While the U.S. has made strides on gay rights issues, most recently with the Supreme Court’s decision on same-sex marriage, many countries in Africa, including Kenya, hold more conservative views.

Same sex relations are still illegal in Kenya and Ethiopia, where the president will travel on Sunday.

Ahead of the trip, several Kenyan political and religious leaders had warned President Obama not to discuss gay rights while in the country.

Earlier after opening the GES 2015 Summit at Gigiri, Obama  visited a memorial for those killed in the 1998 US embassy bombing.

The trip, which began on Friday, is Mr Obama’s first visit as president to the country where his father was born

On Sunday, Obama will in the morning open the Leadership Centre at Kenyatta University and thereafter hold talks with the members of the opposition and the civil society.

He is expected to meet CORD leaders Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetangula as well as Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua.

Obama will later address the public at Safaricom Stadium before concluding his three day visit to Kenya.

The US President is expected to leave the country Sunday evening for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

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Posted by on July 25, 2015. Filed under AFRICA. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

79 Responses to Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta Differs With Obama On Gay Issue

  1. New Educated Zambia©❤√ Reply

    July 25, 2015 at 8:33 pm

    Of course the gay issue is a very senstive issue in Africa. Culture plays a major role. What we in the UPND are saying is that you cannot stop a human from doing what he wants in the confines of his bedroom. As the majority of people do not accept this sexuality, this makes gay people a minority. The law of governance states that minorities need protection. Legally you do not have to accept gay people. However, that does not warrant victimisation of gay people. Take out the gayness, those people are citizens of the country and deserve protection. Rather than force the vice to go underground and increase diseases, it is better we face the gay issue and accept it is there. The same happened when HIV became common in the 90s.

    • kakolwe Reply

      July 25, 2015 at 8:47 pm

      What a horrible line!!!
      Conversely: “Take away the theft, thieves are normal people, a minority, needing protection yadah, yadah, yadah!”
      Typical!!!

      • Jethuth Chritht Reply

        July 25, 2015 at 9:14 pm

        “True Christians Love Everybody!”

      • New Educated Zambia©❤√ Reply

        July 25, 2015 at 9:30 pm

        thieves have rights too. When they are caught and arrested they are not to be treated inhumanely. This is according to the law of the land. That is why you see a lot fuss been made over prison condiitions in line with human rights act.

      • real Reply

        July 25, 2015 at 11:15 pm

        who among those who speak or practice this inhuman behavior was born form the anus?

        • Heart & Soul Reply

          July 25, 2015 at 11:45 pm

    • Amazing Reply

      July 28, 2015 at 4:27 pm

      if the father of obama married a fellow man, was this chap going to be there?

  2. Iwe Reply

    July 25, 2015 at 8:42 pm

    WAS JESUS GAY

    and what would it matter if he was?

    Pat Condell

    November 2, 2007

    • mnnn Reply

      July 27, 2015 at 4:26 am

      foolish

  3. Kizito Reply

    July 25, 2015 at 8:51 pm

    Only perverted people think that, being gay is about anal sex and not about indiviauls nature of sexual orientation.

    • Judge Joe Bidden Reply

      July 26, 2015 at 11:17 pm

      Where else do they get pricked? In the ears?

  4. tumfwe Reply

    July 25, 2015 at 8:57 pm

    If Jesus experienced everything a human would then he experienced sexual temptation? Then the question is did Jesus experience heterosexual temptation, homosexual temptation, or both.

  5. Jethuth Chritht Reply

    July 25, 2015 at 9:04 pm

    Ignorance and fear created the gods-

    “If the ignorance of nature gave birth to gods,
    the knowledge of nature is calculated to destroy them.” -Baron D’Holbach (1723-1789)”

  6. gay gene Reply

    July 25, 2015 at 9:22 pm

    To be or not to be…..

    • Te runyoka Reply

      July 26, 2015 at 12:05 am

  7. citizen Reply

    July 25, 2015 at 9:33 pm

    Homosexuality is abominable and it is illegal here in our country. @NEZ gives me the impression that upndown would legalize homosexuality! All the more reason why hh cannot win any election! VIVA H.E. ECL VIVA!!

    • New Educated Zambia©❤√ Reply

      July 25, 2015 at 9:58 pm

      kiki where in my comment have i stated we would legalise it? Stupidity is giving your own personal meaning to things that have been categorically explained to you in simple language. Please re-read my comment and ask one of your friends to explain to you what that means rather than show off your stupidity here.

      • citizen Reply

        July 25, 2015 at 10:53 pm

        Stupidity indeed is your domain @NEZ. Do i need an interpreter to understand the filth coming out oi your polluted gay-sympathetic mind! Useless fool is you!!!

        • New Educated Zambia©❤√ Reply

          July 25, 2015 at 11:16 pm

          your homophobic mind is clouding your objectivity to interpret information. Please take your head out your backside for once. Read the comments and try to be level headed for once. It is because of fools like you that our country cannot develop. you have chosen to be stiff necked and see things the way you want to. In other words you are dreamers

        • Te runyoka Reply

          July 26, 2015 at 12:10 am

  8. biko Reply

    July 25, 2015 at 10:06 pm

    Am so disapoi.nted wth NEZ I didn’t kno that he is a satanist. So UPND wil alow this stupid way of maring a felow sex? NEZ were you born through the pinus of vig….? Am shoked, plz pipo no vote to UPND as it has owez ben.

    • New Educated Zambia©❤√ Reply

      July 25, 2015 at 10:17 pm

      refer to my comment above you dull pf cadre. no one is talking about legalizing homsexuality. The zambian people will always have a say on what to legalise via the constitution. What we are saying is that we should not turn a blind eye to the victimisation of gay people. Just because one does not recognise the union of a certain group does not mean we cannot contain it and protect them from victimisation. The gay people are a group that are high risk in terms of HIV. If we do not face this issue with an open mind we risk having a rebirth of the HIV problem in the country. Please grow up and look at things objectively

  9. Loveness Reply

    July 25, 2015 at 10:53 pm

    mia farrow

    The President of the U.S. spoke out against homophobia in Kenya!!!! I’m cheering.
    4:16 PM – 25 Jul 2015

  10. Loveness Reply

    July 25, 2015 at 10:54 pm

    The fact that someone should be treated differently because of who they love is wrong. Full stop. Obama on LGBT rights
    4:10 PM – 25 Jul 2015

    • toi tomato Reply

      July 27, 2015 at 8:07 am

      very soon defilers will be claiming rights to love kids. i mean if who you love does warrant arrest then loving kids should be cool as well kaili ninshi you are also genetically wired to feel for 2 months old “babes”

      • Amano Reply

        July 27, 2015 at 8:31 am

        Is it a crime to have sex with another consenting adult? A child cannot legally consent to what you are proposing. Leave gay people alone but just advise them to respect other people’s sexual orientation. You never know who among your close relatives can turn out to be gay!

  11. Imibinde Reply

    July 25, 2015 at 10:58 pm

    You got Christianity from the West.

  12. homo Reply

    July 25, 2015 at 11:07 pm

    Some are and some are not.

    • blindfolded Reply

      July 26, 2015 at 12:13 am

  13. Heart & Soul Reply

    July 25, 2015 at 11:47 pm

  14. haaaaahahahhaha so gay! Reply

    July 25, 2015 at 11:53 pm

  15. Classic Reply

    July 25, 2015 at 11:56 pm

  16. understanding Reply

    July 26, 2015 at 12:02 am

  17. !!! Reply

    July 26, 2015 at 12:43 am

  18. Neo Reply

    July 26, 2015 at 7:21 am

    @Nez UPND has a spokesperson therefore such controversial statements must not come from ordinary members. Homosexuality is criminalised,is an abomination and does not attract any sympathy in the Zambia society and it is therefore very very wrong. I sympathise with UPND but do not share such type of thinking on this issue. SORRY

    • New Educated Zambia©❤√ Reply

      July 26, 2015 at 8:03 am

      Learn to read and understand things neo. Where in my statement has it been said that it is not illegal? You labelling it an abomination is just your subjective view because no such clause appears in the constitution. What we are saying is that we need to recognise that there are gay people in zambia and ensure these guys are practicing safe sex. It is very dull to bury your head in the sand. You did the same with hiv now look who suffered the most from that pandemic. Drugs are not allowed in many western nations but that has not stopped them from providing support to those affected. You call yourslf Christians and yet are the most evil hearted chaps. That same bible who do you think introduced it to you.

  19. mj banda Reply

    July 26, 2015 at 7:30 am

    HH would ve recommended

  20. joy Reply

    July 26, 2015 at 9:30 am

    Theft is the crime of stealing, and today it has become the part of art of organised crime. Am talking about people with rights doing illegal things. If we treat homosexual as a crime then no one will be victimised as the law will confine them.

  21. Nyota Reply

    July 26, 2015 at 11:31 am

    Gay Useless

  22. mj banda Reply

    July 26, 2015 at 12:40 pm

    HH is very desperate and would have said yes to homosexual

  23. Nyenyezi Reply

    July 26, 2015 at 3:11 pm

    Am no longer PF but such comments as the ones from @NEZ about homosexuality, worry me more than PF’s poor economic management…i feel NEZ should be commenting on his own behalf and not as UPND mouthpiece or will have second thoughts about supporting a party which entertains homostupidity in the name of protecting pipo’s rights.

    • New Educated Zambia©❤√ Reply

      July 26, 2015 at 6:52 pm

      we in the UPND are not tolerating it or taking sides. What we are saying is that anything to do with how people live will be left to the electorate to decide. This is not UPND nor PFs country. The majority view is what counts as this is a democracy. But what we wont allow is people being killed because there is a rumour that they are gay. Whether we like it or not, those gay people hold the same NRC, passport and citizenship as you and I. As the law stands, it is illegal to be gay in zambia and we the UPND as law abiding citizens stand by that. Something being illegal does not warrant ones death. Because you stole sugar as a kid did not mean you deserved to be killed.

    • Judge Joe Bidden Reply

      July 26, 2015 at 11:23 pm

      I agree with you NEZ sometimes needs to talk as NEZ because is stance is personal and not of the party. Issues of Gay rights is global and controversial NEZ shouldn’t be pronouncing things that aren’t party’s position. Not all UPND officials will agree with him.

  24. Kwati like so Reply

    July 26, 2015 at 5:27 pm

    Yes here in the usa ve seen dis thing happening at large. Its bullshit gents ! Human beings sick to the core. The penis waz designed to b inserted there…… I Min there… Not mumputi ! Ukukolobola amashinsha ya fresh !

  25. Israeli Reply

    July 26, 2015 at 5:31 pm

    In African Tradition homosexuality is a taboo so is in Christianity and other religions yet sm idiot is saying kweeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

  26. Kwati like so Reply

    July 26, 2015 at 5:33 pm

    I stand to differ wit nez on dis. Lets not tolerate dis nonsense gents! Lets not embrace dis !

    • New Educated Zambia©❤√ Reply

      July 26, 2015 at 6:51 pm

      kwati like so, we in the UPND are not tolerating it or taking sides. What we are saying is that anything to do with how people live will be left to the electorate to decide. This is not UPND nor PFs country. The majority view is what counts as this is a democracy. But what we wont allow is people being killed because there is a rumour that they are gay. Whether we like it or not, those gay people hold the same NRC, passport and citizenship as you and I. As the law stands, it is illegal to be gay in zambia and we the UPND as law abiding citizens stand by that. Something being illegal does not warrant ones death. Because you stole sugar as a kid did not mean you deserved to be killed.

  27. sambiana Reply

    July 26, 2015 at 7:35 pm

    NEZ is a damned fool. reading between the line one is left to wonder, what sort of people makes up the UPND. surely, in a christian nation such as ours can a right thinking person be saying this issue should be left to the electorate. nez change for the better, in your quest to campaign for party you’re just decampaigning your sorry selves. au ulizaliwa kwenye matakoni!

    • New Educated Zambia©❤√ Reply

      July 26, 2015 at 9:27 pm

      You are a pf cadre trying to score points. Do not be foolish. If you cannot read and understand the constitution it is better to shut up than show your ignorance.

  28. Kwati like so Reply

    July 26, 2015 at 7:55 pm

    Lets b against dis gents ! Disgusting !

  29. The Spartacus Reply

    July 26, 2015 at 9:06 pm

    @Nez reading between th lines one ll deduce that u ar supporting th vice as UPND Party. On delicate issues like this one its better u speak on yo individual capacity en not as mouth piece of th party, u have injured many members of upnd in all context..its better u retract yo statement..this same issue almost cost Sata chance of becoming th President..

    • New Educated Zambia©❤√ Reply

      July 26, 2015 at 9:49 pm

      as you have said “reading between the lines”.. why make assumptions when I have explicitly told you what my point of view is? You hoped that I would be pro gay in my sentiments because that would give you a point to argue from. However, you are now deducing wrong information to suit you ba PF. Who is in charge of forumlating the law? Is it not the zambian electorate via their elected MPS? so who decides whether homosexuality is legal or not? Is it not the same people? So you want us in UPND to autocratically make laws without giving people a say?

  30. mj banda Reply

    July 26, 2015 at 10:42 pm

    Why are some UPND bloggers misleading readers ati I was pf and now ve changed to UPND.

    • New Educated Zambia©❤√ Reply

      July 26, 2015 at 10:45 pm

      kiki you are still in denial mune. Washala weka. We will await your arrival to the UPND. it is only about time. We thank you and await your positive contributions.

  31. Judge Joe Bidden Reply

    July 26, 2015 at 11:30 pm

    NEZ better you retract that statement my friend. Better you put it as your view. This thing of “we” in UPND sometimes causes unnecessary misrepresentation of the party even if you have made a point. I really believe what you ve said about Gay Rights is not the UPND position but yours I stand to be corrected

  32. mj banda Reply

    July 27, 2015 at 5:01 am

    @jjb, I told you that NEZ is chasing potential voters.

  33. mj banda Reply

    July 27, 2015 at 5:09 am

    @NEZ, am one of the real PF supporter unlike the caramel sugar sugar coated ones. Am even coming to supply heavy duty diesel electric genset electrify my country.

  34. MajorZotaya Reply

    July 27, 2015 at 7:30 am

    @NEZ typically explaining part of UPND constitution. Come 2016, MESSIAH AZAKWAPULA NAFUTI this Gay party, akapitilire napa statehouse uyu kuzingalume.

  35. CludZ Reply

    July 27, 2015 at 8:03 am

    The constitution doesn’t necessary protected criminals such as thieves, what it does is gives us an appropriate punishment for them with respect to their human rights. So whoever is saying that we need to protect homosexuals like we protect criminals such as thieves must be using the word protect in a whole different meaning, otherwise the vice should be punished

  36. Mzee Hekima Reply

    July 27, 2015 at 8:10 am

    This topic alone has the potential for a Party to lose a lot of votes. So be careful what you say in which ever parties name.

  37. peter Reply

    July 27, 2015 at 8:26 am

    Nez what u shud understand is dat gayism is ungodly. Ba Nez ukutemwa ukulandalanda kwati u know everything lelo kwamiletelela kikiki dats not acceptable in zambian tradition

  38. Patrick Reply

    July 27, 2015 at 8:49 am

    Bravo Mr President Uhulu Kenyatta you are really God fearing man. God bless you.
    patrick

    MALAWI

  39. NAPACHEPA Reply

    July 27, 2015 at 11:37 am

    it very unfortunate to have pipo like NEZ ON This site writing nosense favouring the gay pipo. i have been following his (NEZ) Comments about religion its like the fool is an earthiest.

    • Kronish Reply

      July 27, 2015 at 1:55 pm

      Guess you meant atheist.

    • New Educated Zambia©❤√ Reply

      July 27, 2015 at 10:55 pm

      kikikiki please refer to my comment belows. I have addressed insecure small minds like yours already

  40. Trixy Reply

    July 27, 2015 at 3:31 pm

    “…Legally you do not have to accept gay people. However, that does not warrant victimisation of gay people….” In this statement, I believe what NEZ was saying is that gay people should not be accepted in Zambia legally, but, if by any chance, are there, they should not be victimized just because they are gay…(I stand to be corrected). He went on to say that you do not have a right to condemn what anyone does in the confinement of their own bedroom. Which, I think is true to a certain degree. He is simply saying homesexuality should not be accepted in Zambia (legally) even though it may be there. I alaso think that the above view is NEZ’s not the view of UPND.

    • New Educated Zambia©❤√ Reply

      July 27, 2015 at 10:51 pm

      Trixy if only many people took time to read and understand simple text like you have, we would have a very developed nation. Thank you for breaking it down to the people here. No where have we said that we would legalise homosexuality on our own accord. What we are saying is that at the end of the day, the people shall decide via their elected representatives in the national assembly. That is what our consitution states and we will respect it. The majority always win in a democracy. As things stand it is illegal in zambia and we respect that. However, it is not an office punishable by death. So to all those dreaming about killing the gays, try it and see where you also end up. Let us not get emotionally charged over straight forward things

  41. Trixy Reply

    July 27, 2015 at 3:48 pm

    NEZ am I right?

  42. The Spartacus Reply

    July 27, 2015 at 4:16 pm

    @Nez retract yo statement u can’t be right out of th masses who have spoken against u. Gaysim is against Godly values en Zambia is a Christian country..its not abt yo terminology or vocabulary bt th all context is wrong..

  43. LUNGISAN Reply

    July 27, 2015 at 6:30 pm

    Some rights are demonic,

  44. kakolwe Reply

    July 27, 2015 at 6:30 pm

    1 reason I will kill a homo who visits my home. Picture an middle class family of 7. Their 2 boys have a bedroom and so do the 3 girls. Father & mother occupy the main bedroom. Now you receive this subhuman homo and offer him to share the boys’ room: but the idiot admires boys!!! What would stop him sodomising the boys? Kaili ubwakwe bwatemwa imputi!! That is as dangerous as giving me to share the bed with your beautiful 21yr old daughter auti “iyoo, kakolwe alifuuka elyo aliicindika! You’ll find me nabuicindikila mumwana. Six weeks later, atampa ukukana butter!!!

    • chilesheology Reply

      July 27, 2015 at 6:38 pm

      OMG … the butter part cracked me….

  45. chilesheology Reply

    July 27, 2015 at 6:37 pm

    I like gays, you guys – they are the only people that can have s=x in a complete circle, each being pricked from behind while pricking another in front. I think they need a minimum of 5 men (hexagon) for the loop to work. Cheers to the horny bast=ards.

  46. NEZ ulabeja Mambala Reply

    July 27, 2015 at 9:09 pm

    NEZ is gay

    • New Educated Zambia©❤√ Reply

      July 27, 2015 at 10:54 pm

      kiki ukose mambala iwe. Read things objectively for once. I can see alot of people are emotional over gay people. They are trying to bury it and act like it is not taking place. We in the UPND are saying we know that it is taking place and that we respect the law which states it is illegal. However, what we are against are people taking the law in their own hands. In the same way that it is illegal for citizens to kill a man accused of a crime, is the same with the gays. Let the law take its course with them . We will not accept mob justice because are a civilised society. let us be mature for once and be honest wiht ourselves.

      • Homo zappien Reply

        July 28, 2015 at 11:31 pm

        Eeeee bafwile bakosa fye bamambala, typical African mentality, always in denial… that’s why many perished from AIDS, because of ubututu!!

  47. CAPITALIST NIGGA Reply

    July 28, 2015 at 11:43 am

    I would rather be an Etheist than gay!

    • LGBT Friendly Reply

      July 28, 2015 at 11:17 pm

      I would rather be gay than ignorant.

  48. Trixy Reply

    July 28, 2015 at 11:46 am

    To cut the long story short, If NEZ is saying the people of Zambia will have a say over homosexuality, for the sake of democracy (assuming he is speaking on behalf of the UPND) then I see no reason why anyone should worry. Believe me Zambians are sober minded people and no way can they allow this vice to be made legal….as far as I am concerned, this gay thing is a NON STARTER!!

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