- "We find the impugned sections (of the penal code) are not unconstitutional. We hereby decline the relief sought and dismiss the consolidated petition," said presiding judge Roselyne Aburili.
- The constitution still outlaws same-sex marriage but allowing gay sex would "open the door for same sex unions."
- There was "no conclusive scientific proof that LGBTQ people are born that way" she added.
- "The High Court of Kenya legitimizes homophobia by upholding a colonial culture of exclusion, discrimination and violence against minorities" - The Kenya Human Rights Commission.
- "We will appeal. We expect that the court of appeal will overturn this erroneous decision which in our view is very biased," said Eric Gitari, one of the petitioners.
- Catholic bishop Alfred Rotish welcomed the ruling. "We cannot be another Sodom and Gomorrah," he told Reuters news agency.
What's the gay scene like in Nairobi?
Megha Mohan, BBC Gender and Identity reporter There are unofficial gay clubs and advertised events in Kenya's cities. "The LGBT community in Kenya have created an amazing tribe and culture for themselves," says Brian Macharia, an activist for the Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya. "There is a ballroom scene, a drag scene - vibrant bisexual community, a lesbian scene. Young people are driving the community forward through social media." Gay men also use dating apps - although visitors with international roaming do get a warning about the legal status when logging in while in Kenya. The judges ruled that while they respected changes to laws banning gay sex in other countries, it was the court's duty to respect prevailing Kenyan values. Many Christian and Muslim groups support the current law, and the Kenyan attorney-general had argued against decriminalisation. Many African countries still enforce strict laws governing homosexuality, in most cases a legacy of laws imposed by the colonial rulers.DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
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