Follow our report last week on Andi Mack, the first Disney Channel show to introduce a gay character, the Chief Executive of the Kenya Film Classification Board, Ezekiel Mutua has come out to say the show will not air in Kenya.
He posted the board’s full statement on Twitter alongside Multichoice’s response to the ban:
Attempts to introduce gay program in Kenya will be met with the full force of the law @StarTimesKenya @ZukuOfficial #GayProgWontAirInKenya pic.twitter.com/6FNug06qGv
— Dr. Ezekiel Mutua (@EzekielMutua) October 30, 2017
He added that no show promoting gay content will be shown in Kenya and Multichoice added that it wont be aired on DSTV as well as GOTV.
In a statement to Variety, Njeri Gateru, the executive director of Kenya’s National Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission, said Mutua’s decision was disappointing and an overreach of authority.
Across the continent, efforts to show inclusive and diverse programming that involves the LGBT community has been met with resistance. Shows like TLC’s “I Am Jazz,” a docudrama about a transgender teen, and the second season of “I Am Cait” on E! Entertainment channel have been pulled due to protests from across the continent.
