Over the years Kenya has demonstrated from time to time that it is ready to protect its culture and national heritage no matter the cost.
In that regard, the country has gone forward to ban some movies and films that it believes contradict its values and norms. The country banned movies and music video that seems to promote homosexuality, nudity and contain extreme sexual content.
In this article, we are going to look at some of the films that Kenya has banned for one or all of the reasons mentioned above.
Rafiki
The Kenya Film Classification Board banned this film claiming that it contained a homosexual theme.
The film was not only banned in Kenya’s mainstream media but also Kenyan households.
“Anyone within the republic of Kenya found in possession of the film will be in breach of the law that will attract severe penalties” Dr. Alfred Mutua warned at the time.
“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 guideline and the constitution of Kenya,” he added.
I Am SAMUEL
KFCB banned this documentary which depicts a gay Kenyan’s struggle for acceptance and his relationship with another man.
The classification board claimed that the film was “unacceptable as well as demeaning to Christianity”. It further noted that the film contradicted the country’s values and its constitution.
The Wolf of Wall Street
KFCB banned this movie in 2014 for portraying extreme scenes of nudity, sex, drug abuse, profanity, and alcohol.
Fifty Shades of Grey
The film was banned in 2015 for exhibiting prolonged and explicit sexual scenes which depict women as sexual slaves. KFCB also noted that the movie did not tackle issues surrounding child abuse as experienced by the main protagonist.
Stories of Our Lives
Just like Rafiki and I Am Samuel, Stories Of Our Lives was banned in Kenya for apparently promoting homosexuality.
This is the End
This American apocalyptic comedy features several popular stars including singer Rihanna. The 2013 movie was banned in Kenya because the language and some scenes in it were considered as inappropriate.
Makanisa Yanayo Abudiwa Ibilisi
This documentary highlighted about ten churches in Kenya that purportedly practice devil-worshipping. Some of those churches mentioned in the movie included The Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Salvation Army, Orthodox, Seventh Day Adventist, Baptist, Jehova Witness, Legio Maria, Redeemed Gospel, and Kisima cha Rehema.
The film was banned after it failed to justify its claims.
Other movies banned in Kenya include; Otto: The Blood Bath, Sweet Chocolate, Movie 43, Paradise Love, Dream Girl, Poison Ivy, Kamasutra, Romeo and Juliet Casting Call, Monamour, Fallo, Monella, Black Angel, Trasgredire, and Sweet Chocolate among others.
