AG seeks Court of Appeal opinion on judgement on gays and lesbians lobby
Attorney-General, Githu Muigai. He is seeking the Court of Appeal's opinion on a High Court ruling allowing for the registration of a gay lobby in Kenya. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
The Attorney-General Githu Muigai has moved to the Court of Appeal to seek its opinion following a judgment by the High Court allowing the NGO Co-ordination Board to register an umbrella body for gays and lesbians.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the AG filed a notice of appeal “against the whole of the decision” by a three-judge Bench comprising of Justice Isaac Lenaola, Justice Mumbi Ngugi and Justice George Odunga.
The AG maintained that the proposed NGO for the gays and lesbians has a composite name that includes words which are legally unacceptable.
The registration of such an NGO, the AG maintained, was therefore prohibited.
He says that in declining the proposed names of the NGO, the NGO Co-ordination Board was only acting in accordance with the law.
The appeal therefore seeks to get the opinion of the appellate court on the matter.
The High Court on Monday ordered the NGO Coordination Board to recognise and register a gay and lesbians lobby it had earlier rejected on moral and religious grounds.
The court ruled that the Constitution allows recognition and protection of the rights of “every person”, including minority groups such as gays and lesbians.
Following the ruling, church leaders have come out in opposition of the proposed lobby saying it is immoral.
