Kenya Prime Minister: Arrest All Gays

Prime Minister Raila Odinga of Kenya called for gay men and lesbians to be arrested in a speech on Sunday.

According to the BBC, the comments were believed to be the first such threat from Odinga. Gay rights activist David Kuria called the remarks surprising given that Odinga is popular and, unlike leaders in neighboring Uganda, had no obvious reason to use gay people for political leverage.

Odinga made the comments in a speech to his constituency in the Nairobi slum of Kibera, the BBC reports.

“We will not tolerate such behaviours in the country,” he said. “The constitution is very clear on this issue and men or women found engaging in homosexuality will not be spared.”

Odinga denied reports that the new Kenya constitution allows same-sex marriages.

Earlier this year, five people were arrested in Mombasa following reports that they tried to organize a wedding for a same-sex couple.