United States President is currently visiting his homeland, Kenya for the first time since becoming President, a trip that is partly official and also personal, as he’s using the opportunity to also connect to his roots! Click here if you missed it!
It was previously reported by several news outlet that Obama was going to discuss the issue of gay rights with the Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta during his visit. According to Huffington Post however, it was reported that when Kenyatta was asked about gay rights during a joint news conference with President Barack Obama in Nairobi, he saids gay rights are a “nonissue” in Kenya and that the issue is not a priority.
Kenyatta further said that while the U.S. and Kenya agree on a lot, there are some things that cultures or societies just don’t accept. Adding to the statement, he said it’s very difficult to impose beliefs on people that they don’t accept. He says his government wants to focus elsewhere.
Gay sex is a crime in Kenya which is punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
Kenyatta says after Kenya deals with other, more pressing issues such as terrorism, it can begin to look at new issues. But he says for the moment, gay rights isn’t at the forefront for Kenyans.
Photo Credit: Evan Vucci/AP
