What
the Law Says
Society,
February 5, 2005
The Standard Group
I & M Building, Kenyatta Avenue,
P.O Box 30080, 00100 GPO, Nairobi-Kenya.
Tel: +254 20 3222111, Fax: +254 20 214467.
Email: editorial@eastandard.net,
online@eastandard.net
By Tony Mochama
Homosexuality in Kenya ranks with bestiality and is
punishable by law. During the constitution review debate, some gay lobbyists
attempted to publicise their legal plight but were advised against it as it
was believed likely to cause undue public panic.
They did, however, present their views on the new
Constitution, and although gay rights are not explicitly provided for in the
draft Constitution, there are several implicit references that gay people
could hide under, with only future litigation providing interpretation from
the courts. Some of these are:
Section 34 – Freedom from discrimination—specifically
on conscience, belief, culture or birth. If one, in good conscience, is gay,
or believes in it wholly, or can define one’s lifestyle as their culture, or
can prove they were born gay, then it can be argued that they cannot be
discriminated against on grounds of their sexuality.
Section 40 – Human dignity—everyone has the inherent
dignity and right to have that dignity respected.
Section 43 (d) – Every person has the right to privacy,
so that one’s private affairs cannot be unnecessarily required or revealed.
Section 44 – Freedom of belief and opinion.
Section 38 would seem to provide for gay marriages in
the future by stating in sub-section three that “every person who is at
least 18 years of age has the right to marry, based upon the free consent of
the parties.” The parties are not pigeon-holed as “man and woman”, which
leaves a window for future gay unions.
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