Kenyan comedian and activist Eric Omondi has demanded an apology from the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) acting CEO for recent regulations targeting YouTubers, stating that withdrawing the notices is insufficient.
“Hawa watu wametuzoea, na imefika mahali we will stop them, jana waliposema ati we have a license to shoot and post on their social media accounts and send content to them to approve, that was an insult to the industry, walitutukana, walitudharau,” Omondi said.
Without mincing words, the comedian-cum activist demanded that the acting CEO publicly admit to liability within 14 days failure to which he would be forcefully removed from office.
“It’s not enough that they withdrew the letter they must apologize to all content creators. If they don’t apologize, we will uproot them from office within 14 days.
The tables have turned, those 14 days, if the acting CEO of KFCB does not apologize within 14 days, wembe ni ule ule. He must go to the mic, and say ‘I was wrong, to intimidate, to frustrate young people who are looking for a livelihood after the government has failed to provide a livelihood and employment’,” Omondi declared.
The Kenya Films and Classification Board (KFCB) chairman Njogu Njoroge directed the withdrawal of notices issued to YouTube content creators over film licensing.
This is after several content creators posted the notices from acting Chief Executive Officer Paskal Opiyo who gave the creatives 14 days to acquire filming licences from the board or face legal action.
The ultimatum caused an uproar among the creators and Kenyans online who expressed their frustrations over the matter.
READ: “There is nothing funny in Kenya” – Eric Omondi on why he stopped doing comedy
Hours after the notices were dispatched, KFCB chair Njoroge stated that he had directed the Board to recall the directive to pave the way for consultative meetings with the content creators.
“Our content creators should be supported all the way. They should be encouraged and supported 100 per cent. We should be training our youth on monetization, and we are deliberate on that matter,” he said.
“I have directed the management to withdraw the notices and organise for an engagement with all the stakeholders,
“We should be talking about thousands of opportunities if not hundreds of thousands of jobs in the digital media,” he added.
In the letter, KFCB accused the content creators of uploading audio-visual content and distributing it to the public without the filming licence from the board.
“Consequently, we demand that you strictly comply with the requirements of the Films and Stage Plays Act by obtaining filming licences for your films, and submitting them for examination and classification before the same is exhibited and distributed to the public through your YouTube channel,” the notice read in part.
Additionally, the acting CEO pointed out that the board was acting in its mandate to regulate the broadcasting and distribution of content in the country.
“Take notice that unless you comply with the above in the 14 days, we shall institute legal proceedings by the provisions of the Films and Stage Plays Act and other relevant laws, without any further reference to you and at your risk as to costs and other attendant consequences thereto,” acting CEO Opiyo stated in the notice.
