By Abucheri Mbarak, 10 July, 2025 The Kenya government has come under sharp criticism following its support for the LGBTQ community at United Nations' Human Rights Council. Kenya on Monday was among a host of countries that took a vote to renew the mandate of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) rights expert. Kenya was among 29 countries that voted in favour of extending the mandate of South African human rights scholar Graeme Reid, who documents abuses against LGBTQ+ people and advises governments on protection mechanisms. 15 countries opposed the motion, while three abstained. Supporters included Chile, Germany, Kenya, and South Africa, while several African nations and Qatar opposed it The move has elicited mixed reactions from Kenyans, including religious leaders who have emphasized the importance of respecting religious teachings and cultural norms. The Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) North Rift Chairman Sheikh Abubakar Bini expressed his outrage, directly accusing Western nations of attempting to impose what he termed "homosexuality" on developing countries. He said that homosexuality is a serious issue with grave consequences for humanity, stressing that Kenya’s vote is seen as a profound betrayal of national values and critical step in ensuring that LGBTQ+ rights remain on the international human rights agenda. Sheikh Bini called on the Kenyan government to reverse its position, emphasizing that the country’s cultural and religious values should never be compromised. “Our cultural values are priceless and can't be traded for anything under the sun,” he stated. He warned that such actions could have detrimental effects on religious, cultural, and family traditions, which have been the foundation of societal relations for centuries. “The vast majority of Kenyans adhere to Christianity, Islam, and traditional beliefs, and a common factor in all these beliefs is that homosexuality is immoral, repugnant, and a criminal act that cannot be tolerated in Kenyan societies,” he said. The CIPK Chair further argued that Western countries, which he claimed had introduced homosexuality to the rest of the world, were now turning away from it. “The West, which brought it upon humankind, have noted its dangers and is running from it: from the USA to Europe, laws have been passed against various aspects of homosexuality,” he added Sheikh Bini further called on religious leaders to intensify efforts to address the moral decay in Kenyan society. “I call upon our religious leaders to continue educating the public on the importance of protecting Kenyan moral values, traditions, customs, and cultures in light of the current wave of moral erosion,” he said.