Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
“From the foregoing, we disregard and reject the contents of the Bill in toto (entirely/ completely) and appeal to the Assembly not to let the Bill be enacted into Law,” the prelates underscored in the statement signed by the KCCB’s Chairman Archbishop Martin Kivuva Musonde of Mombasa Archdiocese.
Giving reference to a similar Bill that was proposed in Kenya and which “generated much criticism and resistance,” the Church leaders said, “Last year in August, Kenya’s Senate rejected a private member Bill dubbed “The Reproductive Health Bill” sponsored by one Hon. Susan Kihika, Senator, Nakuru County…Whilst the East African “Sexual and Reproductive Health Bill” by Hon. Kennedy Mukulia Ayason is to be debated at EALA, from our analysis, the said Bill is a re-introduction of the rejected “Kihika Bill” at a regional level.”
They narrated to the legislators in their statement dated Tuesday, November 9, that they “hold and strongly believe that the union of the East African Community is defined by unique cultures with similar values and diverse contextual approaches to the different members of the community,” hence the need for the Bill to be rejected.
In their message shared with other leaders including the Chairman of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA), the Secretary General of East African Community, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Kenya, the Speaker of the Senate and the Cabinet Secretary Ministry of affairs and international trade, the bishops noted that their decision towards the proposed Bill has been guided by Article 26 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010, on the right to life.
“We maintain that the Bill as presented is an attempt to engender an amorphous field of rights referred to as “reproductive rights” contrary the Right of Life as protected and guaranteed by our Constitution,” reads part of the bishops’ message.
They narrate further, “Life is sacred, begins at conception and ends with natural death, therefore no legislation should support or promote any form of termination of life, but rather seek to ensure the sanctity of life.”
The bishops cited part of the proposed Bill which they disclose “advocates for comprehensive Sexuality Education for adolescents and youths” which is “a contributor to the high rates of teenage pregnancies and abortion.”
“This is attributable to its failure to establish abstinence as the expected standard for all children,” reads part of the bishops message as they add, “it presents abortion as a safe or positive option while omitting data on the many potential negative physical and mental health consequences.”
“Comprehensive Sexuality Education seeks to lead children to focus on unhelpful sexual behavior at the expense of education and life goals,” the prelates narrated quoting the scripture which says, “Train up a child in the way that he should go: and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Based on their observation, the Church leaders emphasized, “Our position is to focus on what imparts knowledge, values and life skills into our children and moulds them into a better tomorrow.”
The East African Legislative Assembly is the Legislative Organ of the East African Community, consisting a membership of 62, of whom 54 are elected Members (9 from each Partner State) and eight ex-officio members (the Ministers responsible for EAC Affairs from the Partner States, the Secretary General of the Community and the Counsel to the Community). The East African Legislative Assembly has legislative functions as well as oversight of all East African Community matters.