Kenya's deputy president, William Ruto,
on Sunday said that gay people are not welcome in the east African
nation.
“We will not allow homosexuality in
our society as it violates our religious and cultural beliefs,”
Ruto said during a church service at the Jesus Winner Ministry Church
in Nairobi.
“We will stand with religious leaders
to defend our faith and our beliefs,” he said. “There's no room
for homosexuality in this country. That one I can assure you.”
Ruto's comments, which were greeted
with cheers, came on the day Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in
the nation for talks.
A spokesman confirmed Ruto's remarks,
telling Reuters:
“The government believes that homosexual relations are unnatural
and un-African.”
Kenya is among the 36 out of 54 African
nations where gay sex is illegal. According to the
AFP, an effort to increase the penalties in Kenya is underway.
Binyavanga Wainaina, a recently out
Kenyan writer, criticized Ruto's comments.
“Our Deputy President Ruto is
building himself to be the most dangerous man in Africa,” Wainaina
said on Twitter. “If his strategy works much will burn.”