The Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) has recently sent notices to several prominent Kenyan content creators, including Oga Obinna, Awinja (Jacky Vike), Njugush, Abel Mutua, YY Comedian, and Mulamwah, warning them to obtain filming licenses within 14 days or face legal action.
The letters have cited violation of Section 4 of the Films and Stage Plays Act, emphasizing the need for filming licenses for audio-visual content distributed on YouTube channels.
According to KFCB acting CEO Paskal Opiyo, the Films and Stage Plays Act mandates filmmakers producing content in Kenya for public exhibition to secure filming licenses, with additional requirements for examination and approval of films distributed in the country.
Mr Opiyo underscored the board’s responsibility to regulate film creation, broadcasting, distribution, and exhibition within Kenya, highlighting the importance of compliance with regulatory standards.
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Content creators responded to the notices with a mix of reactions. Awinja criticised the lack of prior engagement by KFCB, emphasising the positive impact of content creation on job creation and international recognition.
Oga Obinna, for his part, expressed confusion and called for clarification from KFCB, while Njugush questioned the need for intermediation in approving short clips uploaded to YouTube, suggesting reliance on the platform’s own checks.
“I reacted to KFCB’s trend by swiftly recording a clip on my phone to keep up. However, before publishing the two-minute ‘film’ on YouTube, I prefer to send it to you for approval rather than relying solely on YouTube’s checks. What are your thoughts on this approach? Do you handle similar situations differently if you have a YouTube channel?” Njugush shared
Abel expressed amusement at KFCB’s communication, hinting at the unexpectedness of the situation. The responses from content creators reflect a spectrum of sentiments, including confusion, frustration, and calls for transparency and dialogue in regulatory interactions.
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