By Vostine Ratemo
The residents of Kariokor Central are collectively demanding for the closure of a gay center opened and operated by an organization referred to as “Hapa Kenya” in their residential area. This comes in a backdrop of fights against LGBTQ across communities in Kenya, something that has seen the Education CS, Ezekiel Machogu appoint the Anglican Bishop Ole Sapit to head chaplaincy programmes in schools to curb spread of homosexuality.
This is according to the circular written by the Mzee wa Mtaa Nuria Albert and Josephine Nyali to the County Commissioner of Taita Taveta County.
The area is domiciled by both Christians and Muslims hence has great morals a thing which the organisation is completely going against by supporting Homosexuality as it claims to be offering services to the gays in the community by guiding, counselling and treating sexual transmitted diseases among the homosexuals in Taita Taveta County.
“Homosexuality is not allowed in both Christianity and Islamic teachings. It is equally un- African and against Taita Taveta Culture. Allowing such an organisation to run activities in the vicinity of our young men and boys is like sanitizing an unacceptable behaviour in the community. With the community’s due diligence and observation these activities are encouraging more young men and boys to engage in it,” read the statement.
The circular read that the process of licensing Hapa Kenya to operate in Kariokor Central did not involve public participation, hence calling for their licence to be revoked and that if there was any organization`s operations ongoing to be put to a stop with immediate effect. They further claimed the organisation encourages more young men and boys to be homosexuals by giving them cash tokens.
The circular was copied to the Governor of Taita Taveta County, MP Voi Constituency, Sub County Commissioner of Voi, OCS Voi, MCA –Kaloleni Ward and Mbololo Ward, and the Chief- Voi.
