Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) CEO, Ezekiel Mutua, has suspended a Kikuyu-language music video 'Ikamba' by Isaiah and Waharaka, and called for the arrest of everyone involved in its production over hate speech and incitement.
The song, which sparked outrage on the internet, appears to mock the Kamba community and Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu over the ban on charcoal trade and the recent torching of vehicles carrying it in the County.
"The song is offensive and distasteful. Its translation and real meaning and objective is to mock one community and deride its members over the ongoing controversy on charcoal burning in Ukambani.
"The song is in bad taste as it generalizes the acts of a few individuals to malign and deride a whole community in the most foul language. It's a primitive piece of art that contravenes the provisions of Article 33 of the Constitution on Freedom of Expression and amounts to incitement, violence and hate speech," Mutua stated in a strongly-worded post.
He suspended the video and called for the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to investigate it and arrest the culprits.
[caption caption="KFCB Chairman Ezekiel Mutua"]
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"This video therefore should be suspended forthwith and the two musicians, the producers and distributors arrested and charged with hate speech and incitement to violence. The NCIC should move with speed to arrest and charge the culprits," he noted.
Mutua explained that the video was in contravention of KFCB classification guidelines.
He ordered media houses not to air the song and cautioned that anyone found with it would be charged.
"In the meantime, the song should not be aired on any media platform or distributed in any frontier. Anyone found in possession of the same will be charged for being an accomplice to a crime," he noted.
[caption caption="A snapshot of the video"]
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