The Kenyan Correspondents Association (KCA) chairman William Oloo Janak has condemned the contentious Film Bill, saying it undermines press freedom and other liberties while controlling and limiting social media information.
“The proposed law, if passed in its current form, is a threat to the creativity industry and practice of journalism in this country, and will thus water down the milestones made in the freedom of the media,” Kerich said.
Kenya Union of Journalists Secretary Erick Oduor said the Bill poses a big threat to freedom of the press and demanded its immediate withdrawal. “Stakeholders were not involved in the drafting of the Bill which has many offensive clauses that need to be removed. The Bill if passed in its current form will water down the milestones made in the freedom of the media,” says Oduor. The Bill gives Kenya Film Communication Board powers to control the circulation of content on social media. Oduor maintained that the board must also be reconstituted to have ‘professionals’ run it.
The proposal provides that every person engaged in the making of films: as a proprietor, producer, promoter, financier, actor or photographer, will be required to apply for a filming certificate. The same section requires the presence of a police officer at the filming scene, giving him the authority to stop the activity whenever he deems it necessary. Internet service providers require that the exhibitors and distributors be registered before using Internet platforms and the content be classified before it is shared.
