Film board restricts movie expected to premiere today

Kenya: The Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) has restricted the exhibition and distribution of the much-anticipated film, Fifty Shades of Grey, in the country.

The film, which was scheduled to premiere today and tomorrow in various movie theatres, now joins a list of movies such as the Story of Our Lives, Wolf of Wall Street, This is the End, Paradise Love and Movie 43 that have suffered the same fate in recent years.

Speaking in Nairobi, KFCB Chairman Jackson Kosgei claimed the film contained extended and explicit sexual scenes depicting women as sexual slaves, which goes against our culture and morals as a nation.

"The film was restricted due to its prolonged and explicit sexual scenes depicting women as sexual slaves and does not tackle the issues surrounding child abuse as experienced by the main protagonist," said Bishop Kosgei.

"Moreover, the harsh realities that may arise out of sexual practices involving bondage, dominance and submission are largely ignored," he added.

"Although members of the public, including children, can easily access pornography through the internet, that is no reason to promote it," he said.