KFCB board chairman says Netflix films remain a threat to Kenya's moral values and national security.
The Kenya Films Classification Board (KFCB) on Wednesday insisted that online streaming service Netflix must comply with Kenyan rating standards, even as the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) and ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru differed with the film regulator on the matter.
KFCB board chairman, Bishop Jackson Kosgei, said that Netflix’ film streaming services in Kenya remain a threat to not only moral values but also to national security, adding that its intention was not to scare investors from pitching tent but only to ask them to conform to moral codes governing the country.
Mr Kosgei said during a media briefing that the films being circulated on the US-based firm's platforms are classified and rated on the basis of guidelines enforced in other jurisdictions, which are completely at odds with Kenya’s regulatory standards.
“Some of the movies sampled suited for 13 year-olds contain classifiable elements such as extreme violence, nudity, promotion of irresponsible sexual behaviour, inappropriate language and drug abuse, and Netflix knows this.
“If they do not come for the meeting we notified them of last week we will go to California and meet them, since America is not heaven where you have to die first - we will simply get air tickets,” said Mr Kosgei.
In his support, KFCB chief executive Ezekiel Mutua said that their communication with Netflix is at an advanced stage and that the latter admitted that the maturity standard rating guiding them in other territories is not yet in Africa but that they were working on it.
In their (Netfllix) response, Mr Mutua said that they are currently using reasonable judgement to provide content in Kenya.
“If Netflix has been able to comply in other jurisdictions like France and Singapore, then we are not under dogs to swallow inappropriate stuff,” he said.
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