Church tells politicians to keep off pulpit and regulation of church as they condemn court ruling on LGBTQ

Church leaders have instructed their lawyers to appeal a ruling allowing homosexuals to register their organisation.

The clerics, under the umbrella Evangelical Association of Kenya (EAK), claimed "cartels" were attempting to introduce the gay agenda through the courts.

“We will not stand on the sidelines and allow people with evil intentions to turn Kenya into a biblical Sodom and Gomorrah. Who thought LGBTQ is an acceptable way of life and not an abomination?” they argued.

The EAK is a coalition of evangelical and Pentecostal churches in Kenya, led by Bishop Kepha Omae of the Redeemed Gospel Churches.

On Friday, Justices Philip Waki, Asike Makhandia and Martha Koome – in a 3-2 majority decision – upheld a High Court judgment that gays and lesbians should not be denied their fundamental rights because of their lifestyle.

“Following the judgment, which we believe is unconstitutional, we have instructed our lawyers to file a petition in the Supreme Court to quash that order by the Court of Appeal,” the clerics said.

They said the Church would not be silenced yet it had the duty of protecting the moral fabric of the country.

The leaders also opposed plans to regulate the Church through the legal system, saying the manner in which the matter was introduced in Parliament by Kigumo MP Muturi Kigano was unwelcome.

They said Mr Muturi had threatened that if the AG did not enact a law within 90 days, he would introduce a private Bill to regulate churches.

“The Church is against regulation by any external body that does not have experts who understand how a church, as a religious institution, functions. We are committed to self-regulation,” the EAK officials said.

The clerics also vowed to block politicians from using the pulpit to talk politics and pour cold water on the war against corruption. “We have resolved that our pulpits will not be used to make statements that serve to derail the war on corruption,” said Bishop Kepha.