Condoms are inventions by mzungus (whites) and should therefore be banned, a Kenyan MP said on Thursday.
Ramadhan Kajembe, MP for the Changamwe district, said in Parliament that not only are condoms ”mzungu things” but they are also painful to put on. Furthermore, he finds advertisements for condoms offensive.
Kajembe voiced his feelings during the debate on a motion to regulate the advertising industry in Kenya.
Gor Sungu, an MP of the ruling National Rainbow Coalition, said consumers in Kenya have little protection. He called for the establishment of an advertising authority to act as watchdog for the industry.
He said that Kenya’s censorship law, dating from 1963, is outdated and does not address the ethically reprehensible nature of some advertisements.
He said modern advertisements being flighted on television are corrupting the morals of Kenyans. Many MPs agreed with him, with Beth Mugo, Assistant Minister for Education, adding that some advertising firms are taking advantage of young people.
Raphael Tuju, Minister for Information, said the introduction of an advertising Bill will not lead to ad hoc banning of advertisements, as long as advertisers make sure their products comply with ethical standards.
The motion for a regulatory body follows months of debate regarding the banning of advertisements for tobacco products and alcohol. — Sapa