The Kenya Film Classification Board has fired a salvo at some of the country’s most popular YouTube stars, demanding they obtain filming licenses for their online content in a move that has sparked an uproar over censorship and creative freedom.
In a letter issued this week, the KFCB gave creators like Obinna, Terence Creative, and Awinja a 14-day ultimatum to acquire the requisite permits or face potential legal action. The regulator cited the Films and Stage Plays Act, which requires filmmakers to secure licenses for public exhibition of audio-visual content.
“We demand that you strictly comply…by obtaining filming licences for your films, and submit them for examination and classification before the same is exhibited and distributed to the public through your YouTube channel,” the letter stated. “TAKE NOTICE that unless you comply…we shall institute legal proceedings.”
The edict has drawn widespread criticism on social media, with many users arguing it represents a heavy-handed overreach that could stifle Kenya’s blossoming digital creative economy.
The creators claim the decades-old law is ill-suited for the democratized world of online video sharing.
“Yani the moment there have been increased positive content creation, job creation and international recognition, KFCB mnafufuka. The fact that you have not even considered a sit down with content creators, you’ve just gone straight to red taping us, it says so much about your intentions,” lamented Jacky Vicke.
“The’re many useless things in government but nothing beats KFCB,” entrepreneur Khalif Kairo tweeted.
