KFCB sends warning to parents & video joints owners
By Judy Jerono
The Kenya Film Classifications Board (KFCB) has issued a stern warning to parents and video joint owners who expose children to offensive content.
It has been observed that the parents who do not have househelps leave their children in video gaming joints, exposing their children to graphic and violent games.
KFCB North Rift Regional Manager Emmanuel Mbutu said that some video joints in the North Rift Region have now been turned into daycares by some parents who leave their kids there the whole day giving them the opportunity to learn things that are not of their age.
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File image of gamers enjoying themselves at a local Nairobi joint. |Courtesy| The Standard|[/caption]
“During our monitoring routines, we were shocked to realize that some parents, guardians, and caregivers have abandoned their roles of protecting the children by leaving them from morning until after work hours in video gaming joints that have been turned into child daycare centres,” said Mbutu.
Mbutu said those who will be found exposing their kids to such contents will be arrested and taken to court so as to serve as an example to other parents adding that the owners of the joints who violate the regulations will also be arrested, prosecuted and their licenses will be withdrawn.
The board urged the joint owners together with the guardians to monitor and guide the children on the video game they should play or watch on television and also on online platforms.
“The protection of children from harmful content is a collective responsibility, our children are unknowingly being exposed to foul language, violence, obscenity, nudity, radicalization, promotion of harmful drugs and substance abuse, propaganda for war, hate speech and incitement by some uncaring media platforms,” said Mbutu.
The regional manager said that video gaming is addictive and that some children are already addicted to it due to prolonged exposure forcing some of them to steal money from their parents to pay for the games.
Mbutu urged members of the public to report the joints which expose the underage to such violent and graphic gaming.
“We also urge members of the public to report video gaming joints that are exposing our children to harmful content, especially during the current long holidays,” he said.
File image of gamers enjoying themselves at a local Nairobi joint. |Courtesy| The Standard|[/caption]
“During our monitoring routines, we were shocked to realize that some parents, guardians, and caregivers have abandoned their roles of protecting the children by leaving them from morning until after work hours in video gaming joints that have been turned into child daycare centres,” said Mbutu.
Mbutu said those who will be found exposing their kids to such contents will be arrested and taken to court so as to serve as an example to other parents adding that the owners of the joints who violate the regulations will also be arrested, prosecuted and their licenses will be withdrawn.
The board urged the joint owners together with the guardians to monitor and guide the children on the video game they should play or watch on television and also on online platforms.
“The protection of children from harmful content is a collective responsibility, our children are unknowingly being exposed to foul language, violence, obscenity, nudity, radicalization, promotion of harmful drugs and substance abuse, propaganda for war, hate speech and incitement by some uncaring media platforms,” said Mbutu.
The regional manager said that video gaming is addictive and that some children are already addicted to it due to prolonged exposure forcing some of them to steal money from their parents to pay for the games.
Mbutu urged members of the public to report the joints which expose the underage to such violent and graphic gaming.
“We also urge members of the public to report video gaming joints that are exposing our children to harmful content, especially during the current long holidays,” he said. What's Your Reaction?
