Eldoret Gospel Artist Arrested for Non-Compliance with KFCB Regulations

ELDORET, Kenya – Gospel musician William Getumbe faces legal action after failing to adhere to the Kenya Film Classification Board’s (KFCB) directives regarding his controversial song ‘yesu ninyandue’.

According to Kenya News Agency, the board had issued a notice to Getumbe, demanding the removal of his song from online platforms by February 29 due to its content, which was deemed offensive and in violation of regulatory standards. Despite the warning and subsequent deadline, Getumbe did not comply, leading to his arrest.

Kioko elaborated that the song ‘Niko Uchi’ associated with Getumbe contained elements deemed inappropriate under Kenyan law, including nudity, vulgarity, and disrespect towards the Christian faith, alongside promoting violent and imitable behaviors. The KFCB’s decision to enforce sanctions underscores its commitment to regulating audio-visual content and upholding public morality.

Following the lapse of the compliance period, the KFCB’s Eldoret regional office took action, detaining Getumbe for the distribution of content classified as morally degrading and blasphemous. He is currently awaiting legal proceedings at Kapsoya police station.

The board has reiterated its dedication to vigilantly monitoring and addressing objectionable content, encouraging public cooperation in reporting violations. Meanwhile, Getumbe, through his attorney Mark Chirchir, has contested the board’s actions, arguing that his arrest was premature given an ongoing court challenge against the KFCB’s demands.