Cabinet Secretary George Magoha shares a number of characteristics with President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda. 

They do not shy away from asking fundamental but disturbing questions. These questions require deep introspection, which some of us rarely do. In a recent remark, Prof Magoha sparked a controversy by directing that students engaging in homosexuality should be barred from boarding schools. 

Prof Magoha argued that gay learners should be restricted to day schools closer to their homes. A few years ago President Yoweri Museveni, while signing the anti-gay Bill into law, asked scientists to educate him on why someone in his normal senses should “leave something good for something really bad.” Indeed, let us admit that debate on the issue of homosexuality is, largely driven by emotions that are inspired by stereotypes, prejudices, religious doctrines and hardly of scientific research.

Those who are against the practice argue that homosexuality goes against the design of the Almighty. Gays and those who support them argue that it is within their province to choose the sexual orientation that fits them, and no one has the right to regulate their sexuality. 

There is, however, scarcity of scientific research that can explain why some members of our society are predisposed to choices that, seemingly, make the majority of the people uncomfortable.

Scientists in the US have demonstrated that there is no single gene that predisposes one to this behaviour. We are lagging behind in availing empirical data that can explain this phenomenon in Africa. 

It is, however, notable that a few researchers have attempted to explain aspects of this behaviour. Based on the researches we have accessed, we can authoritatively confirm that being gay is largely learnt pure and simple. 

Hezbon Kodero and Misigo Lushya, in their study entitled: Perception of Students on Homosexuality in Secondary Schools in Kenya, published in the International Journal of Current Research, present findings that help us understand the extent of this behaviour.

Their thesis is premised on the fact that we are all products of nature and nurture. While nature refers to our genetic make-up originating from our parents, nurture refers to our socialisation process. 

They shockingly reveal that many students in high schools in Kenya have been socialised into homosexuality.The fundamental finding of this research is that children pick up this behaviour through the process of socialisation.

It is the various socialisation engines, including the media that influence children to engage in this behaviour. The damage that dirty literature and pornography is doing to our children is, to say the least, catastrophic. 

This finding lends credence to President Yoweri Museveni’s theory that he has expressed in the most grotesque and graphic terms. It further gives Prof. Magoha’s remarks scientific basis. In a baseline survey of  Western Kenya commissioned by USAID, we found out that gays are scattered all over the region. 

They are underground groups, though well known to NGO’s working in the area of reproductive health. Most of them confessed to us that they have learnt to enjoy it. 

The bottom line from these findings is that this behaviour is largely learnt and parents who are uncomfortable with it need to take their parenting roles seriously. For now, research seems to absolve President Museveni in his assertion that it is a learnt behaviour and can be unlearnt if one wants to. 

These findings absolve Prof Magoha’s position that the children who practice it can go on with studies but for the common good of the majority of students, they should not be allowed to infect other children.

The burden is on the parents of these students. But let us not condemn these students but offer them professional counseling.

Prof Kabaji is a Fulbright Scholar [email protected] while Prof Misigo is a researcher based at Moi University [email protected]