Film Board bans local movie that promotes homosexuality.

 The Kenya Film Classification Board Chief Executive Officer Dr. Ezekiel Mutua addressing the press in Kisumu today where he has announced the board's decision to ban a local movie due to its homosexuality and clear intent to promote lesbianism in Kenya-Photo By Dickson Odhiambo.

By Dickson Odhiambo        

April 27, 2018.

Film Board bans local movie that promotes homosexuality.

THE Kenya Film Classification Board has banned a local film due to its homosexual theme and clear intent to promote lesbianism in Kenya contrary to the law.

The Kenya Film Classification Board Chief Executive Officer Dr. Ezekiel Mutua says the local film titled Rafiki being produced by Awali Entertainment Limited and directed by Wanuri Kahiu has been restricted in the country.

Addressing the press in Kisumu today, KFCB Chief Executive Officer said the film should not be distributed, exhibited or broadcast anywhere within the Republic of Kenya.

Mutua says anyone found in possession of the said film will also be in breach of the law.

The Kenya Film Classification Board Chief Executive Officer says the board notes with great concern that the film which was submitted to it for examination and classification on April 10 this year contains homosexual scenes that runs counter to the law, culture and moral values of the people of Kenya.

“Indeed, it is our considered view that the moral of the story in this film is to legitimize lesbianism in Kenya contrary to the board’s content classification guidelines in the constitution of Kenya,” Dr. Mutua says in a signed press statement.

Mutua says the decision to restrict this film in Kenya follows extensive consultation with various stakeholders including the film producer and other agencies of the law.

“It should be noted that the board held a meeting with the film director Ms Wanuri Kahiu on April 16 this year during which it was agreed that she be given until April 18 this year to edit the film to remove the offensive classifiable elements and submit it for re-classification. She later requested the deadline to be extended to April 25 this year and two days ago, the board received communication from her requesting that the board goes ahead and make a ruling on the original version,” Dr. Mutua adds.

Mutua says the producer of the film is in contravention of section 7 of CAP 222, altered the film script which they submitted for licensing to the film licensing section without permission.

He adds that the Board has taken time to review the original script that was licensed for production and notes the following that include romantic scenes depicting the lead actors as lesbians in the film were absent in the script.

He says that in the script, the lead actors were portrayed as having been attacked for political reasons, having formed a political party feigning unity between their parents whereas in the film they were ob viously attacked for being homosexual.

“In the script, a paper jet made from their political movement campaign lands on one of the main character’s shoulder which reminds her of her relationship with her lesbian partner, but leaves the fate of their relationship to the viewer’s imagination. However in the film it is her lesbian lover that places her hand on her shoulder, creating impression of a happy ending to a trouble relationship,” he adds.

He says the objective of the film is to clearly normalize homosexuality in Kenya and the message in the story is to celebrate the resilience of the youngsters involved in lesbianism, adding that these are material alterations without full disclosure on the nature of the film.

“ By attempting to normalize homosexual practices, the Film ‘Rafiki’ contravenes the laws of Kenya .Article 45 of the constitution of Kenya 2010 defines marriage as a union between persons of opposite sex.Further, section 162,163 and 165 of the Penal Code criminalizes homosexual behavior, with the state not recognizing sexual relations between persons of the same gender,” Mutua further says.

ENDS: