Kenyan Atheists Vow to Reject BBI Report for Ignoring Proposal on Same-Sex Marriages

Kenyan atheists have vowed to reject the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report for failing to capture their views.

Atheists In Kenya Society said its members presented their grievances before the BBI taskforce in February this year but none was incorporated in the final report.

“Despite sending our proposals to the BBI taskforce team on February 27, 2020, none was incorporated in the final document. We will rally the atheists' community in Kenya to reject the BBI report,” the society’s president Harrison Mumia said in a statement.

The nonbelievers wanted Article 45 (2) of the Constitution which stipulates that a marriage can only be formed by persons of the opposite sex, be amended to give room for same-sex unions.

“Every adult has the right to marry any other person, based on the free consent of parties.” 

“That BBI failed to incorporate this amounts to gross failure to fulfill its duty, hence the report only warrants rejection,” the group said.

In addition, the society proposed Article 170 which establishes the Kadhi Court in Kenya, be abolished as it flouts the principle of separation of church or faith and state. 

“Neither the government nor our Constitution should be seen to be promoting any religion, or certain religious ideas. The United States, Australia, India, and South Korea are all examples of countries in different ways. Including Kadhi Courts in our Constitution undermines the secular nature of our Constitution,” it noted.

The BBI taskforce handed over the final report to President Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga in Kisii last week. The report will officially be launched at the Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi on Monday.