The President Of Kenya States LGBT Rights Are Of "No Importance"

The President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta said in an interview that LGBT equality is a non-issue to his people…
 
The President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, said that LGBT rights are of “no importance” to his country in an interview with CNN. The East African country’s leader spoke with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, asserting that homosexuality goes against the laws and cultural practices of Kenya.
 
“I want to be very clear; I will not engage in a subject that is not of any major importance to the people and the republic of Kenya. This is not an issue as you would want to put it, of human rights- this is an issue of society. It is an issue of our own base, our own culture as a people,” said Kenyatta, going on to mention that no community in Kenya would acknowledge the practice as culturally acceptable.
 
The CNN Chief International Correspondent rebutted the African leader, mentioning that he was ‘going to get himself in trouble,’ also noting that the acceptance of the LGBT community is an increasing global issue. Kenyatta maintained his position, stating: “It is not important to me as the leader of 49 million Kenyans.”
 
Kenyatta would not discuss his personal opinion on the subject, but did state:
 
“In years to come, after I am done being President, maybe our society will reach a state where that is an issue that people are willing to openly discuss.”
 

 
This is not Kenyatta’s first time making controversial statements on LGBT rights. In former US President Obama’s 2015 visit to Kenya, he questioned the leader’s disregard for equality of the LGBT community.
 
Kenyatta told Obama that Kenya was not fond of the LGBT community, also stating: “We share a lot of things, but gay issues are not among them… We cannot impose on people what they don’t accept.”
 
Kenyatta has been under an international microscope ever since his controversial win in the August and October elections of 2017. Despite Kenyatta’s victory being considered rigged, Kenyatta still serves as the East African nation’s president.
 
In December of 2017, 92 people were killed as a result of the elections, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights said. Almost 250 other victims experienced torture and injuries due to the 2017 elections.