Kenya is on the verge of a ‘Gene Robinson’ moment

Photograph: Tony Karumba/AFP/Getty Images

Repost from the guardian.co.uk, by Peter Anaminyi

Kenya is on the verge of having its “Gene Robinson” moment as parliament prepares to debate and confirm Kenya’s first gay rights chief justice and deputy chief justice. Dr Willy Mutunga, the nominee for the chief justice position, is the current east Africa representative for Ford Foundation and was involved in facilitating the registration of a gay rights organisation.

As if this was not enough, Kenya’s Judicial Service Commission also went on to nominate Nancy Baraza as the deputy chief justice. What is her crime? Nancy has been outed. Not for being gay but for doing her doctoral research at Kenyatta University on gay rights. Needless to say, these nominations have generated the most intense debate surrounding any public appointment in living memory. It has forced a discussion on the issue of gay and gay-rights-affirming people and their suitability for public office. Continue reading