Ruto Faces Backlash at Home: UN LGBTQ Vote Puts President in Hot Water. War Declared

Kenya’s recent vote in favour of extending a global LGBTQ+ rights mandate at the United Nations Human Rights Council has set off a political firestorm back home, igniting fierce opposition from top political figures, including those within President William Ruto’s own coalition. 

Leading the dissent is Homa Bay Town MP Opondo Kaluma, a staunch defender of traditional African values and an outspoken ally of the Kenya Kwanza administration.  

Known for his unwavering resistance to LGBTQ+ rights, Kaluma didn’t hold back in blasting the government’s decision to support what he described as a Western-driven ideological intrusion into African societies. 

“Homosexuality/LGBTQ perversion imposed upon developing nations by the West is destroying our societies,” Kaluma declared in a fiery social media post. “We cannot support it in whatever form. It is repugnant to our culture, is detrimental to health, is contrary to our faiths, and is outright unacceptable.” 

Kaluma accused Western nations of weaponizing human rights to force LGBTQ+ acceptance on African countries, describing Kenya’s vote as a betrayal of national identity and spiritual beliefs. He warned that the cultural and religious bedrock of Kenyan society was being eroded through foreign influence and international pressure. 

He also pointed to recent developments in the West where some governments are introducing restrictive laws around LGBTQ+ expression, suggesting that even long-time advocates are retreating due to the “dangerous” effects of what he called the LGBTQ agenda. 

“Our cultural values are priceless and can’t be traded for anything under the sun,” Kaluma insisted. 

The MP didn’t stop there. He issued a direct warning to the Kenyan executive: Parliament would reject any future international agreements that normalize or promote homosexuality in the country. 

“Parliament won’t ratify any agreement permitting homosexuality in Kenya as I sit there,” he vowed. 

The international resolution in question involved the renewal of South African scholar Graeme Reid’s mandate, a human rights expert who documents abuses against LGBTQ+ individuals and advises countries on protection strategies. 

Kenya joined 28 other nations, including Chile, Germany, and South Africa, in supporting the renewal. Fifteen countries voted against it, while three abstained. Several African nations and Qatar were among the opposition, showcasing a deep divide within the global south on the matter. 

The U.S., which had supported LGBTQ+ mandates under the Biden administration, stepped back during Trump’s tenure, withdrawing from the council and initiating executive actions to dismantle inclusion policies and curtail transgender rights. 

Back in Kenya, the political controversy over LGBTQ+ rights has been escalating. In March this year, a study warned that Kenya could lose up to Ksh1 trillion in potential international investments if Kaluma’s proposed bill to criminalize homosexuality more harshly becomes law. 

 Despite this, Kaluma remains adamant that no economic gain should come at the expense of Kenya’s moral foundation. 

As the international spotlight grows and domestic tensions mount, Kenya finds itself caught in the middle of a global cultural battle, between honoring long-held traditional values and navigating the expectations of an increasingly progressive global order.