Last week, the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) issued a public notice that as from 28 May 2018, anyone filming videos for public viewing will be required to obtain a license for the same. Following KFCB’s announcement, the CEO, Ezekiel Mutua, emphasized that the regulation applies to any video, including those recorded using mobile phones, as long as it is meant for public exhibition. He further explained that public exhibition includes publishing the videos on social media and the internet.
KFCB’s new regulations will mean that anyone intending to publish any videos online will require the following:
Pay an Annual Registration Fee of Kes.12,000
Pay Kes.5,000 for every video you produce (as long as it is under 40 minutes)
Pay Kes.1,000 for every day you take shooting the video
After production is complete, send the video to KFCB for approval before you hit publish.
Failure to do this will attract a fine not exceeding Kes.100,000 or imprisonment of a term not exceeding five years or both.
If this becomes law, in my view, being creative in Kenya might as well be a crime.
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