‘Mimi nilishangaa nikashindwa kuongea’ -Gachagua speaks on LGBTQ ruling

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has weighed in on the recent legalisation of Lesbian Gay Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) by the Supreme Court.

While addressing a crowd during the launch of the Women Fund at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Gachagua noted that the ruling took him by surprise. He underscored that the President William Ruto-led administration was too stunned to speak on the matter as they were still internalising the verdict.

He underscored that the ruling went against the country’s customs and traditions and was ruining the country’s moral fabric.

Additionally, he affirmed that the Kenya Kwanza government was one that was founded on Christian values and principles and would therefore not accept the move to legalise the LGBTQ community in the country.

“Siku chache ilipita kumetokea maneno pale kotini, watu wanauliza kwa nini sijaongea. Mimi nilishangaa nikashindwa kuongea. Hio mambo imetokea ati kuna chama ya kuttea wanaume waoe wanaume na wamama waoe wamama, sa hio ni mambo gani. Mimi nauliza wale ambao wanapitisha hio maneno pale kotini, mama akioa mama wataambiana nini? Hio maneno hatutaki, hio ni mambo ya kishetani, ni kinyume na vile sisi tunaamini,

“Sisi tunasema kiongozi wa nchi hii ni mcha Mungu, he is a man of faith, he will do what needs to be done. In any case, we have our traditions and customs and what they are suggesting is repugnant to morality and justice and our way of life. Kwa hivyo hio maneno sisi hatuko hapo,” he stated.

On his part, Ruto asserted that his administration does not support the move. He stated that he will not disregard Christianity and Islam values to support the legalisation of the LGTBQ community.

“Mimi ni mcha mungu lakini desturi zetu haziturusu kufanya mambo kama hao. Hatuwezi enda kwa barabara ya wamama kuoa wamama wenzao au wanaume kuoa wanaume wenzao. Hii itafanyika kwingine lakini haitafanyika Kenya. Watoto wetu nyumbani wanahangaishwa na haya mafunzo.
Hatutapoteza ukristo na uisalmu siwezi ruhusu wamama wenzenu wawaletee competition ama wazee kupeana competition,” he stated.

This loosely translates to:

“I am a Christian and our culture does not allow us to allow same-sex marriage. It can happen elsewhere but not in Kenya. I cannot allow our women to get competition with men who chase after men. We will not disregard Christianity and Islam for this,” Ruto said.