KENYA FILM COMMISSION KICKS OFF TRAINING FOR OFFICERS INCORRECTIONAL FACILITIES

Nairobi, Kenya September 9 2021

Members of Kenya Prisons during the launch. Images courtesy Maimuna AbdulRahman.

Kenya film Commission (KFC) has rolled out the Training of Trainers program for wardens from Kenya Prisons launched at the Kamiti Maximum Prison back in February 2020 before the COVID pandemic that necessitated the postponement of the same. The training will be an eleven unit- intensive, hands-on and total immersion course whose curriculum and mode of delivery will be a blend of practical, hands-on and immersion practical training delivered through a blend of theory and project based work- from faculty who will demonstrate contemporary film production techniques in visual storytelling with fortitude and creativity and spread out over three weeks for the trainees to culminate in each group producing a 5-8 minute film as a graduation/ course completion requirement. This program will be rolled out around the country with Nairobi hosting the pilot phase that has 50 wardens drawn from Nairobi Area correctional facilities that include; Kamiti Maximum Security Prison, Kamiti Medium Prison Kamiti Youth Correction and Training Centre, Kamae Girls Borstal Institution, Nairobi Industrial Maximum Prison, Nairobi Industrial Medium Prison, Jamhuri Short Sentence Prison, Langata Women Maximum Security Prison and Nairobi West Prison. “The long-term objective of this program is to offer a crash program or master classes to inmates so that they have a fall back plan that will empower them economically after serving their terms. We are confident that the content that will originate from the trainees will promote a message of peace, unity, cohesiveness and non-violence through filmmaking,”, notes Timothy Owase the CEO KFC. The overall goal of the Commission mentorship programme is to plug into the national governments goal of creating employment through 1.3 million jobs every year while creating partnerships with county governments to establish at least one industry in every county. The initiative demonstrates KFC’s commitment to focus on communities’ societal experience and provide social solutions from a community perspective while sparking creativity in people of all ages with limited income or resources confined in prisons. At the heart of the Commission, is the strategic intention to grow the sustainability of the film industry through strengthening existing institutional frameworks and increasing the production of films in Kenya through the active involvement of stakeholders across the board.

“Filmmaking is big business indeed. It remains our responsibility therefore, to make sure every person in the society at whatever level has been empowered to partake film making and join the creative economy. We believe there will be great stories coming from here and other facilities outside Nairobi”, says Owase. A healthy and vibrant film industry creates jobs, promotes tourism, contributes to education, civic information and promotes national cohesion. To this end, KFC is committed to developing an enabling environment for filmmakers young and old to flourish in their field. We are committed to promoting content creation, mentorship and industry facilitation in storytelling.

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