George Peter Kaluma, the mp for homabay town, proposes a bill that would impose life sentences for individuals found engaging in homosexual behaviour and other odd sexual acts.
The Kenyan constitution calls for a 14-year prison sentence. The Penal Code of 1930 criminalizes acts of 'gross indecency' and 'carnal knowledge against the order of nature.' Same-sex activity is prohibited.
Kaluma's bill seeks to merge penal code Articles 162 and 165, as well as Articles 45 (1) and (2), which prohibit homosexuality and other abnormal sexual acts. It also intends to pass legislation banning the promotion of homosexuality.
"If we do not stop the promotion, we risk losing the family unit as we know it," Kaluma said in an interview with NTV digital.
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Kaluma's letter to the speaker of the national assembly, the lawmaker stated that the proposed law aimed to further the provisions of Article 45 (2) of the Kenyan Constitution and protect the family.
kaluma goes on to say that the current constitution is rarely enforced, and therefore he would like the penalty to be increased to life imprisonment.
"There is no right to be LGBTQ, but we know these are still Kenyans. We want to create a law that provides room for rehabilitation where possible, but is also strict not to erode our societal morals," said Kaluma.
The high court in 2019 passed a law criminalizing homosexual acts between consenting adults. The groups contended that criminalizing same-sex behaviour violates Kenya's constitution's guarantees of equality, non-discrimination, human dignity, security, privacy, and health.
In 33 African countries, including Kenya, homosexuality is still illegal, and LGBTQ+ people have faced systematic discrimination and persecution.
Kaluma's bill is likely to ignite a debate that has been going on in the country for decades about homosexuality and their rights. in 2019, president uhuru rejected any gay agenda at a global population conference. "We will not accept practices that are in conflict with our cultures," he said.
