On a busy Nairobi morning, the hum of the city’s bustling bus station was interrupted by an unexpected display of affection that left passengers on a matatu travelling between the city centre and Malaa in Machakos County in utter disbelief.
The matatu, already packed with commuters, saw two young women board with a sense of defiance in their eyes. They pushed their way into the crowded vehicle, and within moments, the noise in the air shifted. They began kissing each other passionately, oblivious to the awkward glances and muttered gasps from the surrounding passengers. One of the women, as though daring anyone to question them, turned to a tout who had asked about their relationship and declared, “This is my husband, and I love her very much.”
The pair, who appeared to be in their early 20s, continued their bold display as the matatu rumbled along the congested streets. The journey, already slowed by the heavy rush-hour traffic, became an uncomfortable spectacle for the other passengers. “I’ve heard of such things, but this… this is the first time I’ve ever witnessed it,” Beatrice Moraa, one of the passengers, remarked, her voice tinged with disbelief. “There’s something wrong with the current generation.”
At one point, the woman referred to as the “husband” by her partner nearly erupted into a violent confrontation. A tout, who had been chatting with her “wife,” found himself the target of her fury. She snapped at him, accusing him of admiring her partner, and made it clear that she would not tolerate anyone attempting to “steal” her from her.
Meanwhile, in a quieter corner of the country, Bishop Samuel Ogallo, the presiding bishop of Hami Church in Kenya, was also making headlines. During the burial of Bishop Amos Owili Wasala in Kisumu, he took the opportunity to speak out against the growing acceptance of same-sex relationships, which he condemned as un-Christian.
“This is not what God intended for His people,” Bishop Ogallo declared, as mourners gathered at the gravesite of the late Bishop Wasala, the founder of the Children of the Promise Church.
“The practice of such people is merely a union and companionship, not marriage,” he said, lamenting that this behaviour is becoming more prevalent.
He also warned that some church leaders had started introducing same-sex partners as their “husbands” or “wives” and cautioned of God’s wrath if this practice were to be encouraged.
“For this reason, I urge Christians to be open, bold, and speak out against same-sex marriage, describing it as evil,” he concluded.