MOMBASA, Kenya, Nov 10 – Cult Leader Paul Mackenzie has been found guilty of being in possession of and distributing non-classified films.

In her ruling, Senior Principal Magistrate Olga Onalo further ruled that Mackenzie was guilty of operating a filming studio without a valid license.

Onalo stated that Mackenzie conducted films using the Times Television without the approval of the Kenya Film Classification Board.

He was also found guilty of being in possession and distributing Films which have not been classified contrary to Section 12 of the Films and Stage Plays Act Cap. 222.

The magistrate opined that Makenzie committed both offenses jointly with others not before court on 11 January 2019 and 11th April, 2019, at Good News International Church in Malindi Township, Malindi Sub-County, within Kilifi County.

In her ruling, Onalo stated that the prosecution through Senior Prosecution Counsel Joseph Mwangi Prosecution Counsel Kennedy Kirui proved the case against Mackenzie beyond any reasonable doubt.

The court ruled that the accused failed to dislodge himself from the evidence of the four prosecution witnesses and exhibits including videos of Mackenzie’s radical preaching.

The court ruled that Mackenzie admitted in that Times Television belong to his church, Good News International where detective recovered DVD films containing sermons on end time items in his office.

“Once again in the DVDs watched in court, the court found one titled “Ndoto Obama Coming Edited” and the broadcast started off with the title “watch end time messages everyday” he added too that he knows his end time messages are on you tube and that it is he who uploaded them,”

However, the trial magistrate acquitted him of the offence of inciting children against attending school and further using the films to incite Christians against Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims on their religion.

The matter has been scheduled for mention on 1 December 2023 with the court granting prosecution leave to file submissions on sentencing.

The court also ordered that a pre-sentence report to file by the Probation and Aftercare services which report should capture the sentiments of the complainant which is the state. By Anita Wambui, Capital News

The Fund will be launched next year, said Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, of Intra-African Trade Bank, at Cairo-headquartered Afreximbank.

Awani said that the fund will be responsible for managing film financing, collaborating with major studios for co-financing, and supporting Kenyan and other African filmmakers. 

It will also provide financial assistance to producers and directors working on film projects across the continent. This initiative will increase the funding available to the African creative sector from the bank, raising it from Sh73.4 billion to Sh151 billion. Additionally, Awani mentioned that the bank currently has a pipeline of over $600 million (Sh90 billion) allocated for film, music, visual arts, fashion, and sports.

“Sports and film financing have been the most prominent transactions at the Bank,” she said in a statement during the start of the seven-day CANEX Summit organized by Afreximbank held in Cairo, Egypt.

“The very first film we financed recently premiered at the Toronto Film Festival this year, and the Bank has several in the pipeline from Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya, which should be on streaming platforms in 2024.”

Awani highlighted the challenges faced by the film industry in Africa, such as limited access to financing and copyright infringement due to weak copyright laws, enforcement mechanisms, and a lack of awareness.

Many Kenyan actors and filmmakers have made a name for themselves in Hollywood and other top film hubs.

They include Edi Gathegi who has starred in popular titles such as The Harder They Fall, The Twilight Saga, and X-Men: First Class, and Lupita Nyong'o, who is known for her role in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

Additionally, Kenyan film producer Wanuri Kahiu gained critical acclaim for her controversial film "Rafiki," which means friend in Kiswahili.

Yet the plight of Kenyan and other filmmakers in the continent can be particularly harsh deeming their potential.

The aspirations of even the most talented filmmakers are hindered by a dearth of funding for the arts, limited engagement from the public sector, fragmented markets, challenges in distribution, and the persistent menace of copyright infringement.

And yet, Africa’s potential as a creative powerhouse is huge.

According to statistics, the film and audio-visual industries in Africa contribute $5 billion to the continent's GDP and employ around five million people.

This sector has the potential to create over 20 million jobs and generate $20 billion in revenues annually.

According to Boris Kodjoe, a renowned Hollywood actor with Ghanaian roots, the ingenuity of Africans has significantly impacted numerous facets of contemporary society, encompassing music, fashion, art, design, social awareness, business, sports, film, and television.

However, the West's exploitation of black creativity has left enduring consequences.

Despite the admiration for black excellence, Africa continues to encounter branding obstacles due to external perceptions influenced by the traditional media's portrayal of poverty, famine, civil conflicts, and migration on the continent.

This programme offers various financing and non-financing tools and interventions to support trade and investment in Africa's creative industry. By Brian Ngugi, The Standard

Kenyans can breathe a sigh of relief after the High Court issued orders suspending the new charges for National Identification Cards (IDs), passports and other immigration documents as gazetted by the Interior Ministry.

High Court Justice Lawrence Mugambi issued the orders stopping the implementation of the newly revised charges, following a petition by Nakuru-based surgeon Dr Magare Gikenyi.

"A conservatory order is hereby issued suspending Gazette Notices No. 15239-15249 dated November 6, 2023, and any other document purporting to give authority to increase or review the charges, fees and levies specified therein pending the hearing and determination of the application inter-partes,” the order stated. 

In his petition, Gikenyi argued that the new charges were out of reach of many Kenyans’ pockets while urging the court to certify the matter as urgent.

The Nakuru doctor has sued Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, his Treasury counterpart Njuguna Ndungu, the National Assembly, and the Attorney General. 

Justice Mugambi has directed that the three be served within three days, and responses be filed and served within a week.

The case will be mentioned on November 29, 2023.

Gikenyi had sought the court's relief after Interior CS Kindiki announced that the issuance of new ID cards would no longer be free. 

The government had ordered that those applying for ID cards for the first time be charged Sh1000 while Kenyans seeking replacement for lost cards pay Sh2000. By Mate Tongola, The Standard