Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) on Monday issued a notice on local newspapers stating that all Kenyans would require licences before posting any videos on their social media accounts.

In the notice, the Ezekiel Mutua led-body warned: "Any person guilty of this offence contravenes the law and shall be liable to a fine not exceeding Ksh100,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or both."

Seeking further clarification on the matter, Kenyans.co.ke reached out to KFCB where a representative stated that one would need to get a licence before posting a video recorded on a cellphone on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

"As long as the intention is public exhibition/distribution, a license is mandatory," the KFCB official affirmed adding that if the video was for personal use then there was no need to acquire a licence.

[caption caption="KFCB Chairman Ezekiel Mutua"] [/caption]

The procedure for getting a permit to post a video on any of the social media sites involves visiting the KFCB offices at Uchumi House in Nairobi.

"You come to our offices 14th floor and get a form for Ksh5,000 which you fill and get a licence. A process that takes less than five minutes. Thereafter you will pay Ksh1,000 for every day you want to film.

"Before producing and posting the video on social media, you will bring it to us for classification at a rate of Sh100 per minute of the footage," the KFCB official told Kenyans.co.ke on phone.

In their announcement, the board issued a fourteen days' notice to all offenders and defaulters to comply with the provisions of the Film and Stage Plays Act Cap222.

"At the expiry of this notice, the board will proceed to institute legal proceedings against the offenders in line with the law and our service charter," they declared.

KFCB is a State Corporation established under the Film and Stage Plays Act Cap 222 to regulate film and broadcast content at the creation, broadcast, distribution, exhibition and possession levels by imposing age restrictions in order to promote our national values and culture, as well as to protect children from exposure to harmful content.

[caption caption="Notice by KFCB"] [/caption]