The Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) has urged parents to monitor the kind of content their children watch on television and the internet.
KFCB Western Regional Manager Josephine Gitiri pointed out that it is a collective responsibility to ensure that children are not exposed to harmful film and broadcast content.
“I want to urge parents to be keen on what their children consume in the media as the mid-term break draws closer,” she said, while also urging parents of day school students to be alert and cautious as well.
Speaking today at a Kakamega hotel during an outreach programme, Ms. Gitiri noted the importance of media content in character development.
She said that media consumption should also align with our cultural beliefs, giving an example of the infiltration of Lesbians, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) issues in society, which she noted do not reflect African beliefs.
She said that whereas KFCB has the mandate to regulate the creation, broadcasting, distribution, and exhibition of film and broadcast content, parental controls on the kind of content children watch on television and mobile gadgets are important.
Boniface Mwaura, the KFCB Western Region Deputy Manager, said the board issues four classification categories that include GE (General Exhibition), PG- (Parental Guidance), 16 (Unsuitable for Persons Under the Age of 16), and 18 (Adults Only).
He urged film exhibitors to adhere to the regulations.
KFCB has the mandate to regulate the creation, broadcasting, distribution, exhibition, and possession of film and broadcast content by: Classifying TV and radio programmes as stipulated in the Programming Code for free-to-air Radio and TV Services in Kenya.
By Trizerbel Mboyi and Stanley Odhiambo
