Religion blamed in gay activist's death

In February the same year, Sheikh Ali Hussein of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya and Bishop Lawrence Chai of the National Council of Churches of Kenya blaming some government institution that were harboring gays in Mtwapa in Kilifi.

Hussein and Chai, called a press conference to demand an investigation into activities of the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), a government health center that provides HIV/AIDS services to the community. They criticized the facility for "providing counseling services to these criminals" and demanded that the KEMRI office in Mtwapa be shut down.

The two religious leaders vowed to flush out gays from the area. A local newspaper, The Daily Nation reported that Chai is the leader of a network called "Operation Gays Out."

Following the leaders announcements, an armed mob of 200 to 300 people surrounded the KEMRI health center, threatening to close it over gay-related activities. During the incident, a religious leader addressed the mob, saying all homosexuals should be driven out of Mtwapa. Another speaker encouraged the mob to not bother taking homosexuals to the police, but rather to take the law into its own hands by lynching them.

Religious leaders and parents in this region believe that homosexuality is a creation of Western culture that is decaying African society, and most Africans believe that the practice is not only unnatural but that it also offends God.

The KEMRI health center has been closed since the massive demonstrations due to threats against the center's staff and managers.