un body opposes sex law

The East African Standard (Nairobi)

April 26, 2005, Nairobi: The United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) has urged the government to revoke the law criminalising homosexuality.

The committee, chaired by Ms Christine Chanete, said it was inconsistent with the UN covenant's non-discrimination clauses for the government to consider homosexuality an unnatural act.

Section 162 of the Kenyan Penal Code criminalises homosexuality as an unnatural act, and the offence is punishable with a jail sentence of up to 14 years.

The committee's proposal is contained in its recommendations on a human rights report submitted by the government to the United Nations last month.

Submitting the report, Attorney-General Amos Wako told the committee that the homosexuality movement appeared to be towards tolerance.

"While homosexuality is not an issue per se, all the tribes and customs of the country, and churches abhor the practice," he said.

A committee member, Mr. Roman Wieruszewski, expressed concern that Kenya considered homosexuality an unnatural act and had enacted laws to that effect.