Lead image for Relief for content creators, street photography as Sakaja clarifies licensing fees.
A day after Nairobi County published the 2026 Finance Act, which introduces mandatory licensing fees for filmmakers, influencers, and digital entertainment businesses in order to expand its revenue streams, Governor Johnson Sakaja has stated that the new measures are meant to regulate professional and commercial film productions.
Nairobi County Governor Johnson Sakaja during a past media briefing at City Hall.
According to the Governor, the charges appearing under Tourism Levy and Entertainment Tax schedule were intended to cover commercial film production and organised filming activities, and not the ordinary content creation.
“These charges were never intended to target ordinary content creators, influencers or young people creating digital content. Our intention is to regulate professional and commercial film productions that require significant use of public spaces and infrastructure,” Governor Sakaja said.
The Act introduced specific charges for film, media and content production in the county, requiring local commercial film crews to pay Sh8, 000 in every shooting session, and Sh50, 000 for the international production teams.
Every music video producer will pay up to Sh10, 000 in every project, and an annual fee of Sh40, 000 for static content production hubs.