Kenyan Members of Parliament castigated the European Union for making the rights of LGBTQIA+ a condition for Kenya to enter into the Organisation of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States and the European Union (ACP-EU) Joint Parliamentary Assembly.
The matter was extensively debated as the thirteenth motion of the National Assembly on Tuesday, March 21.
The speaker of the session, Member of Parliament for Homa Bay town (MP) Peter Kaluma, invited members to ventilate on the matter.
“A very interesting debate particularly members if you look at Annex 10 on those LGBTQ matters as conditions upon which we should be signing the ACP-EU post-Coutonou agreement protocol,” Kaluma stated.
Runyenjes legislator Eric Karemba faulted the EU for imposing their norms on African and Pacific states.
On his part, Funyula lawmaker Wilberforce Oundo stated that, “We are Africans and Africa is our business. We must protect the sanctity of the family. We must protect the character of the family.”
The EU was criticized for putting the LGBTQIA+ rights as a condition for Kenya and other African and Pacific countries to sign on to the post-Coutonou agreement.
Karachuonyo MP, Andrew Adipo, noted the importance of the ACP-EU saying it will improve the trade ties with other countries in the treaty.
However, he stated that African and Pacific countries should come together and reject the condition as it contravenes the values of other countries.
The current Cotonou Agreement was signed in Cotonou, Benin. It’s principles include partners’ equality, global participation, and dialogue.
This debate came barely a month after the Supreme Court allowed an LGBTQ advocacy group to form a non-governmental organization.
The decision caused uproar from various leaders in the country including President William Ruto who voiced his reservations on the matter.
On February 24, Peter Kaluma wrote to the speaker that he would introduce a motion to enhance laws against the LGBTQ groups amid wide support from national leaders.
President Ruto and DP Rigathi spoke on March 8 saying they are totally against LGBT laws being introduced in Kenya.
