Kenya filmmakers must pay a $280 license fee yearly to produce a film or face a penalty of $100 or spend five years in jail.
The license also affects video bloggers who want to post videos on any social media platform for public consumption.
In a public notice by the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB), these fees are broken down into various categories.
Filming in Kenya?
1. Work under (register as) a filming agent–K.shs12,000pa
2. License for a documentary, short drama/feature/stills–K.Shs5,000
3. License for full length feature film (>40minutes)–K.Shs15,000
4. Per day filming fees–K.Shs1,000
Dr. @EzekielMutua, @moscakenya pic.twitter.com/4fltFDsa0F— KFCB (@InfoKfcb) May 22, 2018
The KFCB boss, Ezekiel Mutua who was speaking at a local radio station, said that the license was a way to ensure that national security is not compromised through illegal filming activities and to provide the government with much-needed revenue.
Films and Stage Plays Act CAP 222 requires film makers to obtain licenses for all filming whose content is meant for public exhibition. @InfoKfcb @radiomaisha @OtoyoCaptain @Alex_Mwakideu @moscakenya @CSRashidEchesa @NellyMuluka @Khagali_M @kasukubg pic.twitter.com/NeErcbbtTN
— Dr. Ezekiel Mutua (@EzekielMutua) May 22, 2018
Filmmakers will need to apply for a written approval from the Board’s CEO if they want to be exempted from the licences.
“Exemptions must be with a written approval of the Chief Executive Officer of the Board and is only granted following justifiable request and advisory from the film monitoring department,” he tweeted.
