The High Court of Kenya has postponed the proposed ruling to repeal Section 162 of the Penal Code, which criminalizes gay sex.
The ruling was scheduled to hold today, 22nd February 2019 but is now postponed till May 24, 2019.
According to a report on Reuters, Judge Chacha Mwita told a packed court in the capital, Nairobi, that the bench constituted to hear the case needed more time to prepare for the ruling, which had been due for today.
“The judges on the bench also sit in other courts … we need more time,” Mwita said.
Standard Media reports him as saying that “some of the judges in the case were busy”. “You may not like the news I have today…one of our colleague is still on leave,” Justice Mwita said
Kenya is one of the 32 African countries where it is illegal to be gay. Under sections of Kenya’s penal code, gay sex – or “carnal knowledge against the order of nature” – is punishable by up to 14 years in jail.
Between 2013 and 2017, Kenya arrested 534 people for same-sex relationships, the government said.
The law against gay sex in Kenya – sections 162 and 165 – was introduced during British rule more than 120 years ago.
We are still hopeful about Kenya and we look forward to 24th May when the ruling will take place.
