Evolution of film policy in Kenya

Abstract

This paper examines attempts by Kenyan governments to put in place policies or law that control and promote film industry right from the colonial era. Taking a historical approach, this article identifies trends in film policy and by extension media policy in Kenya across different political regimes. The trends show there is no consistency and documentation of film policy. Trends show that the legislations are prohibitive in the manner they were written with deliberate efforts to curtail film production and often interference by executive powers in the day- to day regulations of the film industry. This paper relies on legal documents for data collection. The article concludes that although some strides have been made in drafting film policy, the draft is yet to be signed even as the film industry continues to struggle under a prohibitive colonial policy.