The Pentecostal Evangelistic Fellowship of Africa (PEFA) Church National Executive Council of Kenya has condemned the recent Supreme Court ruling okaying association of people who practice same-sex terming it as retrogressive, unnatural, and immoral.
“We do strongly oppose and dissociate from the judgment which legalized LGBTQI association and affirm our church’s solidarity with other faith-based organizations over the matter,” the joint press statement signed and read by the Presiding Bishop John Odhiambo Okinda and General Secretary Bishop Dr Toms Tembo Chip on Tuesday.
They further stressed that the Supreme Court of Kenya (SCOK) doesn’t have the mandate to set the societal norms as they are clearly set by the authoritative word of God which the PEFA church scribes to and defends.
Espousing the PEFA church’s constitution on marriage and values, the council emphasized that Article 3 highly values the Holy Scriptures, the inherently inspired word of God, for instructions in living a godly life.
The PEFA council pointed out that they believe in the holy matrimony between male and female adults and in the sanctity of marriage according to Leviticus 18:22.
“And this is in line with the Kenyan Constitution Article 45 Section 2 which states that every adult has the right to marry a person of the opposite sex, based on the free consent of the parties,” the Council said during a press conference held in PEFA Church in Kisumu.
Same-sex marriage, the Council observes, is considered illegal and punishable the Kenyan Penal Code Section 62 and 65.
In their view, the legitimization of the National Gay and Lesbian Rights Association will automatically open up a floodgate to lesbianism, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, pornography, and other sinful perversions of God’s gift of sex.
“We dare say that this ruling will give rise to their criminal organizations and religious fundamentalists leading to insecurity, breakdown of our moral fabric and registration of other illegal groupings e.g., mungiki,” the council reiterated.
The council revealed that its more than 2 million PEFA church members, and 4,000 learning institutions (Primary and Tertiary), are saddened by the Chief Justice Martha Koome-led SCOK ruling because they have deviated from the biblical law, African tradition norms and the natural law of the animal kingdom.
On February 23 SCOK ruled that the government’s refusal to register the lobby group National Gay and lesbian rights will violate their constitutional rights. Two SCOK judges Mohammed Ibrahim and William Ouko dissented from their rulings.
The ruling has triggered a nationwide uproar with various religious, political and labor leaders slamming the SCOK.
To expeditiously address the LGBTQI and rights issues, the prelates and faithful have implored President William Ruto and the National Assembly to stand with the Kenyan Society and the church in guiding the nation in this very sensitive matter.
“We wish to remind President Ruto of his interview on September 8, 2022, when he made us proud on the same issue to the effect that; we respect everybody, what we believe in and when Kenyans are ready to address LGBTQI rights, they will make choice,” they appealed.
Consequently, PEFA Church has thrown its weight behind the bill to prohibit LGBTQIs sponsored by Hon Peter Kaluma HomaBay Town MP.
“We advise the members of parliament to support this bill and uphold the sanctity of our moral values society,” they noted.
By Rolex Omondi
