On 7th September, President-elect William Ruto appeared for an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour where he discussed his administration’s agenda.
Speaking on Amanpour, Ruto said he had already reached out to his election rival Raila Odinga, and said he would build alliances that will help to bring the country together.
“The administration that I’m going to run is going to be an administration that is going to serve all Kenyans equally, whether they voted for us or they did not,” said Ruto, whose victory was confirmed by a Supreme Court ruling on Monday.
When asked about the human rights and equality, particularly the LGBTQ community, Ruto said:
“I am very clear that we respect everybody and what they believe in, but we also have what we believe in and we expect to be respected for what we believe in,” said Ruto, who said he does not think that LGBTQ rights are an important topic for Kenyans.
“We do not want to create a mountain out of a molehill,” he said, adding that he prefers to focus his efforts on unemployment and hunger. When it becomes a big issue for the people of Kenya, the people of Kenya will make a choice.”
Kenya’s deputy president has said there is “no room” for homosexuality in Kenyan society, the latest comments from an African government to anger activists and likely also to annoy Western donors who say gays are targeted on the continent.
“No room’ for gays in Kenya”
It is remembered that a few years ago, William Ruto made remarks at a church service, saying there was “no room” for homosexuality in Kenyan society.
“The Republic of Kenya is a republic that worships God. We have no room for gays and those others,” Ruto told a Nairobi church congregation in the national Swahili language, according to an online video posted by Kenyan broadcaster KTN.
His remarks angered activists and Western donors who claimed gays were targeted on the continent.
The United States has been at the forefront of calls for gay rights in Africa and criticises anti-gay laws on the continent.
