Population meeting kicks off amid homosexuality dispute
By People Team, November 11, 2019By Benard Gitau and DPPS
Deputy President William Ruto has assured Christians the government will not allow the introduction of practices that contradict their faith, adding that Kenya is a God-fearing nation.
Ruto was referring to the controversy surrounding the upcoming International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD25) in Nairobi this week.
“We will stand firm as leaders to oppose any teachings and issues that go against our stand as Christians,” he said.
He spoke on Sunday at the Covenant Church International, Enkongu Enkare in Naroosura, Narok, during the consecration of Bishop Simon Saningo Simpai and Assistant Bishop Chris Kosencha.
But Church leaders have vowed to hold a parallel summit to protest the reproductive health conference, which they claim is aimed at promoting homosexuality.
Led by Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), Evangelical Alliance of Kenya (EAK), The Holy See among other pro-life groups, the Church accused the organisers of focusing on a few “controversial and divisive” issues.
EAK chairman Bishop Mark Kariuki said the organisers claim inclusion of sexual and reproductive health rights, abortion on demand and Comprehensive Sexuality Education was the breakpoint.
“Sexual and reproductive health rights is the new frontier in the quest towards greater population control. The ideology that high population impoverishes a nation is a fallacy,” he said.
To counter the summit, the Kenya Christian Professional Fellowship has organised a parallel event to be held at the Holy Family Basilica from today until Wednesday. “We shall end our conference with a march for life on Thursday through the streets of Nairobi to stand up for the family and most especially for the unborn children who cannot speak for themselves,” he said.
EAK urged government officials who will attend the summit not to sign any commitments that will set the trajectory for the destruction of the youth’s morals.
KCCB on Friday expressed concerns the summit aims to agitate for the adoption of homosexuality under the guise of advancing women empowerment. Chairman Rt Rev Philip Anyolo said they would not be part and parcel of such gathering and petitioned President Uhuru Kenyatta to remain steadfast in opposing “harmful” foreign ideologies.
He said as Catholic bishops, they did not believe “these are the issues that truly concern the development of women and humanity at large.”
The Holy See has also opposed the summit, citing the organisers’ decision to focus on a few controversial and divisive issues that do not enjoy international consensus and that do not reflect accurately the broader population and development agenda outlined by the ICPD, terming it regrettable.
Civil Society Reference Group presiding Convener Suba Churchil urged the Church to get its facts right and avoid interfering with the right of organisers and participants to exercise their freedoms of association, assembly and expression.
Lynette Ouma, of the Organisation of African Youth, dispelled fears the summit would discuss homosexuality and other issues raised by the Church.
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