The Kenya Films Commission Board (KFCB) has been directed to withdraw all notices sent to Kenyan Content Creators who share content on video streaming platform YouTube.
KFCB Chairperson Njogu wa Njoroge in a statement on Friday, May 24 announced the withdrawal of the notice that required content creators to acquire licenses.
The board had earlier on Friday sent notices to individuals who are run YouTube Channels and share content on through the video streaming platform.
Njogu wa Njoroge, however, announced that he has directed the KFCB management to withdraw all notices following public outcry and confusion within the creative industry.
“I have directed the management to withdraw the notices and organize for an engagement with all stakeholders. Our content creators should be supported all the way. They should be encouraged and supported 100%. We should be training our youth on monetization, and we are deliberate on that matter. We should be talking about thousands of opportunities if not hundreds of thousands of jobs in the digital media,” said Njogu.
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Njogu issued the statement after the notices caught many You Tubers in Kenya off-guard causing confusion and criticism on many ends.
KFCB Targets Kenyan You Tubers
The notices targeted YouTube channels including popular channels ran by famous content creators in Kenya including Comedians Steve Maghana popularly known as Obinna and Timothy Kimani known as Njugush.
In the notices sent to Obinna, Njugush and other YouTube Channel proprietors, KFCB required them to comply with listed directives.
They were further issued with an ultimatum of 14 days to comply with the demands, failure to which the board warned of taking legal action against them.
“TAKE NOTICE that unless you comply with the above in the next FOURTEEN (14) DAYS, we shall institute legal proceedings in accordance with the provisions of the Films and Stage Plays Act and other relevant laws, without further reference to you and at your own risks as to costs and other attendant consequences thereto,” the notice read in part.
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The notices dated 22nd May 2024 stressed compliance with KFCB Regulations while also highlighting sections of the Films and Stage Plays Act.
Quoting one cap in the Act, KFCB argued that it is mandated to regulate the creation, broadcasting, possession, distribution and exhibition of film and broadcast content in the country.
KFCB had warned that part of the Act further requires all filmmakers producing film within Kenya for public exhibition or sale, locally or internationally, to obtain a filming license.
You Tube Licenses
The notices consequently demanded the creatives to obtain filming licenses for their respective films and channels.
“We refer to the above matter and write to you as follows: THAT our attention has been drawn to your YouTube channels where you have continuously uploaded audio-visual content for purposes of exhibiting and distributing it to the public, without acquiring the requisite filming licenses from Kenya Film Classification Board,” read part of the notices.
In addition, KFCB demanded the creatives to strictly comply with the requirements of the Films and Stage Plays Act by also submitting the films for examination and classification.
According to the board, this was a mandatory requirement for all creators before they exhibited and distributed any content to the public through their YouTube channel.
“Additionally, Section 12 requires that all classes of film being distributed, exhibited or broadcasted within Kenya must be examined by KFCB and a certificate of approval issued,” KFCB warned.
Majority of the content creators who received the notices were left confused in turn leading to widespread reactions from different sectors, criticism, and public outcry among Kenyans particularly those in the creative industry.
Notable creatives who had been affected by the notices include Eunice Wanjiru (Mammito), Lawrence Macharia (Terence Creatives), and Natalie Tewa.
Timothy Njuguna of Njugush TV, Abel Mutua, Makarios Onyango Ouma (Mwafreeka), Oliver Otieno (YY Comedian) and David Oyando (Mulamwa) were also issued with the notices.
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