Kenyan content creators, especially vloggers, are up in arms over new licensing fees from the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) that will make it more expensive to share content.
The new fees take effect on May 29 and will see content creators pay a fine of Ksh100,000 if they do not get a licence before posting their video to platforms such as Youtube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
To register as a film agent, one will part with Ksh12,000 for a one-year licence.
For a documentary, drama or feature film shorter than 40 minutes, one will pay Ksh 5,000 to be granted a license.
It will cost Ksh15,000 to acquire a licence for a full-length feature film with a running time longer than 40 minutes.
KFCB will also charge Ksh1,000 per day as filming fees for any production meant for public exhibition.
The fees will make it more expensive for content creators, many of whom are young people, to produce, share and earn from their content.
Popular internet personality Rama Oluoch who runs The Green Calabash vlog on parenting alongside Shiko Nguru spoke to Kenyans.co.ke on the impact the fees would have.
He explained that the Ezekiel Mutua-led KFCB had assumed all content creators were doing so for profit, yet many were just after expressing themselves and sharing important information with the world.
Further describing the move as unfortunate, he questioned why KFCB would deny young people opportunities for self-employment by placing such roadblocks.
"They're assuming that everybody who does Youtube does it for profit, nobody in Kenya can live off Youtube. Our main reason for vlogging is to make content that can help young parents and share our experiences.
"I think it's unfortunate that we're being forced to pay. I don't understand what their intentions are or what the long-term motive is," he lamented.
Senior officials of the Kenya Young Parliamentarians Association (KYPA); such as Vice-Chair Vincent Musau and Secretary-General Babu Owino were all unavailable for comment when contacted by Kenyans.co.ke on the matter.
However, its Chairperson Johnson Sakaja took to Twitter where he vowed to ensure the law was repealed.
"Hadn’t seen this. This is such a backward law. We shall repeal it. The creative industry is a much needed economic frontier for job creation. Such backward legislation is an unnecessary encumbrance," he wrote.
The Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE), on the other hand, accused Mutua and KFCB of misusing their legal mandate on film classification.
“As an institution that promotes online content creators, we have written to Dr. Mutua to provide clarification on the public notice. We intend on seeking judicial interpretation not only on the public notice but also on the interpretation of what constitutes a film.
"The definition as currently made in the Act and erroneously and selfishly interpreted by the Board and the CEO cannot continue unchallenged,” stated BAKE Partnerships Director James Wamathai.
Senior government communications official Dennis Itumbi also took to social media to seek clarification on the matter.
"Allow me to use this medium Dr. @EzekielMutua so that we have public communication and awareness, is it true @InfoKfcb requires @YouTube users to apply for a licence to post a video online?" he posed.
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