Kenyan Prime Minister Denies Calling For The Arrest Of Gays And Lesbians: Says “I Understand There Are Gay Rights”

The AFP reports that Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Thursday distanced himself from comments he was heard to make during a speech delivered Sunday at a rally in the Nairobi slum of Kibera, when he said that “Any man found engaging in sexual activities with another man should be arrested” and that “Even women found engaging in sexual activities will be arrested.” Those comments sent off wide-spread fear among gays and lesbians in Kenya, however Thursday at a conference on the country’s progress since the 2008 post-election violence, Odinga said he was misquoted and that his comments were not meant to marginalise or victimise anyone, adding “I did not say anywhere that the police will arrest the gays because I understand there are gay rights. Nothing could further from the truth.” His statements Thursday contradicting those made Sunday, when, at one point, he told a cheering crowd “This kind of behaviour will not be tolerated in this country. Men or women found engaging in those acts deserve to be arrested and will be arrested.”