The government will arrest and prosecute any artist found producing and disseminating pornographic media content to the public, ICT CS Joe Mucheru has warned.
Mucheru regretted that unscrupulous artists have been using the cover of the Covid-19 pandemic to produce and disseminate sexually explicit content to the public including underage persons.
The warning comes barely a day after popular comedian Eric Omondi was arrested by Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) over his ‘Wife Material production that has generated a lot of criticism among the general public.
Lovy Longomba’s last conversation with Christian before his death
Mucheru affirmed the government’s commitment to regulating media content released to the public and warned that the government will punish artists out to use their production skills to promote pornography, which is illegal in the country.
He added that the Film and Classification board was working closely with security agents to enforce the law against the production of pornographic materials.
Mucheru was speaking in Naivasha during a meeting with the Taskforce on the Development of National Film Policy and bill.
The CS said his ministry has developed a film policy that will regulate the film industry adding that the policy was slated for publishing in a week’s time to allow members of the public to scrutinise it before it is handed over to Cabinet.
‘The brain tumour did not kill Christian…’ Lovy Longomba explains
He said the policy will address the issue of promotion, regulation and enforcement in the film sector, a move he said will pave way for lucrative film industry in the country.
While admitting that the country had high potential in terms of film production due to good sites, weather and talented personnel, the minister said there was a need for the proper regulation of the sector to ensure sustainable venture even for the younger generation.
“FOR A LONG TIME THERE HAS BEEN CONCERN OVER THE HIGH COST OF FILM PRODUCTION AND REQUIREMENTS BUT THIS HAS BEEN ADDRESSED IN THIS POLICY,” HE SAID.
He assured that once the policy was implemented, it will create 60,000 jobs directly and be a major revenue generator for the country in addition to giving film investors a conducive environment to conduct their production business in the country.
