Kenya condom advertisement pulled after religious complaints (VIDEO)

An advertisement promoting condom use in Kenya has been pulled after religious leaders said it promoted infidelity, not safe sex and protection against HIV/AIDS.

According to Al Jazeera, the ad — "Weka Condom Mpangoni" — sponsored by Kenya's Ministry of Public Health, USAID and UKAID, shows a woman speaking to a friend about her marriage and confiding she is having an extra-marital affair. Her friend tells her to practice safe sex, saying "protect your family, don't forget to put on a condom," and discusses the possibility of spreading HIV.

BBC News reported that the commercial was launched because up to 30 percent of married couples in Kenya had other partners, and around 1.6 million people out of Kenya's 41.6 million population are living with HIV.

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Bishop Julius Kalu of the Anglican Church of Kenya, Mombasa Diocese, said the ad openly approved extra-marital affairs and sex among school-aged children, reported Kenya's Ghafla.

"There are better ways of passing useful information to society. This one has certainly failed," BBC News quoted him as saying. "It openly propagates immorality, especially when all family members are gathered before television sets, waiting to watch news."

The Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) also claims the advertisement promotes infidelity, noted Al Jazeera. Organizing Secretary Sheikh Mohammed Khalifa said "the advert depicts [Kenya] as a Sodom and Gomorrah."