Kenya High Court upholds gay sex ban News
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Kenya High Court upholds gay sex ban

Kenya’s High Court on Friday upheld a ban on gay sex.

The Kenyan Penal Code makes it a felony to have “carnal knowledge of any person against the order of nature” or to commit “gross indecency.” The sentence for these offenses ranges from 5-21 years in prison.

Kenya’s Constitution guarantees human dignity and freedom from discrimination. However, the justices determined that these laws were not discriminatory and rejected that the statutes discourage people from seeking HIV treatment.

Kenyan civil rights group, the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, plans to appeal the ruling.

After the recent recognition of The National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission as an NGO, advocates were hopeful that the court would rule in their favor.