AFP, NAIROBI: Kenyan anti-gay protesters marched in Nairobi yesterday warning US President Barack Obama not to speak about gay rights when he visits the country of his ancestors later this month.
We do not want Obama and Obama, we do not want Michelle and Michelle, they chanted. We want Obama and Michelle and we want a child!
It is important for us as Kenyans to know that the US is not God, said protest organiser and evangelical Christian pastor Bishop Mark Kariuki.
Kariuki said Obama was welcome to visit his father's home but should not talk about the gay issue.
The demonstration drew around 100 people, wearing T-shirts and waving posters with the slogan Protect The
Family.
It came a day after Kenya's deputy president William Ruto, who is on trial at the International Criminal Court in The Hague accused of crimes against humanity, told worshippers at a church service that homosexuality was against the plan of God.
We have heard that in the US they have allowed gay relations and other dirty things, Ruto said, according to the Daily Nation newspaper.
I want to say as a Christian leader that we will defend our country Kenya, we will stand for our faith and our country.
Ruto made similar comments in May when US Secretary of State John Kerry visited Kenya.
Homophobia is prevalent in many African countries and gay sex remains illegal in several nations, including Kenya where it was outlawed under British colonial legislation.
The march Monday was organised by the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya, a coalition of several churches.