By Own Correspondent- The High Court of Kenya on Friday upheld a law banning gay sex, keeping same-sex relations punishable by 14 years in jail.

Giving verdict, Justice Roselyn Aburili said:

We hereby decline the relief sought and dismiss the combined petition.

We find that the impugned sections are not unconstitutional, accordingly the combined petitions have no merit.

Campaigners who filed the petition to decriminalize gay sex have since promised that they will appeal the ruling which they described as erroneous and very biased.

The petition was thrown out on grounds that the ban on gay sex dovetailed with broader, traditional moral values encapsulated in Kenya’s constitution. The verdict left some gay rights activists weeping outside the courtroom.

Speaking to Reuters, Alfred Rotich a Catholic bishop said:

We cannot be another Sodom and Gomorrah.

Most African countries have criminalised same-sex relationships. Only South Africa has legalised gay marriage. Globally,  more than 70 countries have banned homosexuality.-Reuters