Persons living with HIV and Aids want legal action taken against pastors and preachers who force couples to undertake an HIV test before wedding them.
They argued that this was increasing the discrimination against them as most of the preachers refused to wed couples who were found to be positive.
Speaking during celebrations of the Worlds Aids Day at Nyayo Gardens in Nakuru, they pointed out that they also deserved equal opportunities as other people, including marriage.
“We are appealing to the church to abolish such tests as they even paint a grim picture of HIV and Aids and give couples the notion that getting it is equal to a death sentence,” said Peter Ochieng, who is living positive.
He said that the church was among the main organisations that were spearheading the increased discrimination against persons living with HIV and Aids.
Alice Nyarwai said that the court should also stop the churches from compelling for such tests.
“A test should be voluntary and people being forced to take the test before being joined in holy matrimony is simply inhumane,” she added.
HIV and Aids tribunal member Mercy Otieno said that such tests were illegal.
“Part of the work of us as a tribunal is to listen and judge cases of people who have been discriminated against being joined together in holy matrimony because if their HIV status. The tests should be free and voluntary,” she said.