health minister attacks ex-attorney general over his stand on abortion and gays

June 3, 2004: According to a report in the East African Standard Health Minister Charity Ngilu has criticised former Attorney-General and minister for Constitutional Affairs Mr Charles Njonjo for his stand on abortion and homosexual rights.

According to the report Ngilu says that the youth in Kenya were in dire need of stewardship. She stressed that the Government was working tirelessly to bring about behavioural change in order to check the spread of HIV/Aids and reduce unwanted pregnancies.

On Sunday, Njonjo, a prominent member of the Anglican Church of Kenya, was quoted as openly supporting abortion and homosexuality.

"When I was the Attorney General, I would never prosecute those who carried out abortion or those who went for it. I equally would never waste time persecuting gays. I respect their rights," he was quoted as saying.

And in a sharp reaction that misquotes and corrupts Njonjo's words, Ngilu said: "I am appalled that a man of Njonjo's standing could portray abortion so simplistically and as though it is an alternative to contraception. I am equally unhappy that he went further to tell young Kenyans that homosexuality is an opinion".

The minister said the struggle to safeguard the moral fabric of the nation by the churches should be shared by opinion leaders and role models in the society.

"Mr Njonjo has failed this test and young Kenyans should not compromise the gains made so far by the Government," she said.

Ngilu advised Kenyans to practice sexual abstinence, have sex only in marriage and with one partner or use condoms correctly to prevent Aids and unwanted pregnancies.

Meanwhile, the current Attorney-General Mr Amos Wako has warned that abortion or attempts to procure it remain illegal in Kenya and therefore punishable. He gave a similar warning regarding homosexuality.

"I want to assure the general public that abortion, attempts to procure it, unnatural offences and attempts to commit unnatural offences, otherwise known as homosexuality, are criminal offences under the law," he said in a statement.