Artistes and film producers on Tuesday rejected proposed laws requiring people posting videos on the web and social media to get a licence from the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) before posting.
The local artists argued that such a move would stifle the freedoms of people and in the long run stand as an obstacle to the growth of country’s film industry.
“This document says that anyone making any material, regardless of the media is a broadcaster. This means, KFCB can regulate anyone with a mobile phone that can take videos,” said Nest Arts director George Gachara.
“If the producer and the contractor are meant to be fined Sh5 million or sent to jail for four years, (then) this will keep upcoming producers and filmmakers away from the industry that we are trying to grow,” he added.
In a rejoinder, KFCB chief executive Ezekiel Mutua has said that the board would reconsider these rules it made in the proposed Films, Stage Plays and Publications Act 2016, weigh its next move.
“Since they have said they do not want those proposals, we will go back to the drawing board,” he said.
KFCB had also proposed that authorised police be present at the time of shooting a broadcast film and help halt any scene they (police) felt unlawful “in his or her opinion” is unlawful.
Internet service providers were also to be fined Sh2 million or 2-year imprisonment if they did not review any of the videos uploaded and distributed through their sites.