Clerics told to seek solution to gay marriages

By Ngumbao Kithi and Ernest Ndunda

An NGO has asked Christians and Muslims to stop using holy books to condemn gay marriages.

"The Other Sheep", East Africa co-ordinator Michael Kimindu challenged religious organisations to help find solutions to gay problem, saying it was a reality.

"We went to Mtwapa and talked to Christians and they asked for more time to discuss the mess in the society over the gay marriages," he said.

Speaking at a forum attended by Christian and Muslim clerics, Mr Kimindu said the association had decided to use the two major religions to condemn the vice and encourage local people to shun it.

According to a new research released by Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri), more than 700 men in Mombasa engage in anal sex daily.

Kemri said 15.2 per cent of all new HIV infections were through men having sex with men.

The report comes weeks after police arrested five suspected gays believed to have been preparing a wedding in Mtwapa, Kilifi District.

They have since been released without being charged.

Dr Mary Mwang’ombe, Kemri researcher based at Mtwapa, said 60 per cent of the 739 men having sex with men are also involved in heterosexual relationships with 2,500 clients in 24 hours.

Legal sanctions

"Kenya is among the 80 countries with legal sanctions against same-sex unions," said Mwang’ombe.

She said men who engage in anal sex stand ten times more chances of contracting HIV compared to unprotected vaginal sex.

Speaking during a media workshop at a Mombasa hotel on Thursday, she said anal sex is punishable under the Penal Code.

However, Mwang’ombe said since Independence, no man has been convicted of homosexuality.

"Most cases of men having sex with men are hard to prove as there is always consent," she says.

She said men and women commercial sex workers are equally vulnerable to HIV infection although this has gone largely unnoticed for men.

"Most of these men live a secluded lifestyle to avoid being discriminated against by the police and the health care personnel," said Mwang’ombe.

She said it was also difficult for researchers to gain access to homosexuals and investigate their HIV risk behaviour and prevalence rates.