On March 1, Nyali Member of Parliament Mohamed Ali shared a notice of motion to the National Assembly, proposing a ban on the publication and promotion of same-sex relationships and marriages in Kenya.
He attributed the increasing number of people identifying as gay to the rise in media outlets normalizing and publicizing same-sex relationships, including books and news publications about LGBTQ affairs.
According to Ali, banning the dissemination of such material would protect children and youth from exposure to this trend and control its impact on society.
He argued that the distribution of such publications has contributed to the increase in same-sex relationships in Kenya, which he claimed could endanger the country’s population.
Ali’s proposal is not the first attempt to address LGBTQ rights in Kenya.
In February 2023, Homa Bay Town Legislator Peter Kaluma proposed a bill to criminalize LGBTQ activities, generating mixed reactions from the public and political leaders.
The Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of registering LGBTQ organizations also generated controversy, with some religious leaders claiming that the decision would undermine Kenya’s cultural values.
The debate around LGBTQ rights in Kenya continues, with various proposals and reactions from different groups.
