Comedian Eric Omondi and his Wife Material show contestants, numbering at least 15, were on Friday morning, March 12, freed from Central Police Station in Nairobi.
Omondi and the Wife Material contestants were all freed on Sh50,000 police bond but will appear in court on Thursday, March 18, to face charges over alleged participation in the production of “dirty content.”
On Thursday, March 11, Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) boss, Ezekiel Mutua, said he ordered their arrest for violating provisions of the Films and Stage Plays Act Cap 222 of the Laws of Kenya.
According to the KFCB boss, Omondi, who runs Wife Material show on his YouTube, Facebook and Instagram pages, has not submitted the said-content for classification by the Board.
“No film or class of film shall be distributed, exhibited, or broadcast, either publicly or privately, unless the Board has examined it and issued a certificate of approval in respect thereof,” says the Film Board’s Plays Act.
On Friday morning, the KFCB boss took to his Facebook account to inform the public that his directive for the arrest and charging of Omondi is not meant to stifle creativity.
“The war is not against artistes or the youth. It’s against dirty content. The intention is not to harass artistes or stifle creativity. The idea is to promote clean content and protect children against exposure to adult content!” said Dr. Mutua.
Authorities seized the comedian on Mombasa Road with a search within the posh Kilimani estate leading to the arrest of at least 17 of the show’s female participants.
Police drove them to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations offices in Central Division, Nairobi for interrogation.
Nairobi Central Division Commander, Mark Wanjala, confirmed Omondi’s release from their custody on a Sh50,000 bond.
