NAIROBI, Kenya – Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has clarified that new filming fees introduced under the Nairobi City County Finance Act, 2026, are aimed at professional and commercial productions rather than ordinary content creators and influencers.
Nairobi County has moved to clarify the scope of new filming charges introduced under the Nairobi City County Finance Act, 2026, following concerns that the levies could place an additional burden on young people earning a living through digital content.
Governor Johnson Sakaja said the county’s intention is to regulate organised commercial film productions that make substantial use of public spaces and infrastructure, rather than individuals creating ordinary social media videos.
“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,” Sakaja said.
Nairobi filming fees under the 2026 Finance Act
The Finance Act introduces different charges depending on the nature of a production.
Under the new schedule:
- Local commercial filming: Sh8,000 per shooting
- External commercial filming: Sh50,000 per shooting
- Music video production: Sh10,000 per shooting
- Religious or private filming: Sh8,000 per shooting
- Permanent content creator studios: Sh40,000 annually
The charges fall under the county’s Tourism Levy and Entertainment Tax schedule.
Sakaja said the county is particularly concerned with productions that arrive with large crews, specialised equipment and several vehicles and require extensive occupation or controlled use of public spaces.
“There is a clear difference between a content creator shooting a video for social media and a large film production arriving with a crew, equipment, vehicles and requiring the temporary closure or controlled use of a road. That is who we are targeting,” he said.
Other digital entertainment charges introduced
The Finance Act also introduces a range of other charges affecting Nairobi’s entertainment and digital economy.
Local streaming services will pay an annual Sh100,000 levy, while digital content hubs will pay Sh80,000 annually.
Social media influencers who organise monetised gatherings, including ticketed events, brand launches and public appearances, will be required to pay Sh10,000 per event.
The new charges also affect traditional media and entertainment venues. Television stations will pay Sh200,000 annually, radio stations Sh150,000, while cinemas and theatres will pay Sh100,000 annually per screen.
Online entertainment events will attract a Sh15,000 charge.
Noise and event permits
The county has also introduced charges linked to noise permits and events.
Weddings held in residential areas will attract a Sh20,000 charge, while garden weddings will cost Sh10,000.
Clubs will pay annual fees ranging from Sh20,000 to Sh100,000, depending on their capacity. Short-term night events will require a Sh100,000 permit.
The measures are part of the county’s broader framework for regulating entertainment and commercial activities within Nairobi.
Sakaja defends creative sector
Sakaja said Nairobi County recognises the creative industry as an important source of employment and income, particularly for young people.
He maintained that the county has deliberately sought to make Nairobi accessible to filmmakers and content creators because of the industry’s economic and promotional value.
“Since we came into office, we have deliberately created space for filmmakers and content creators to work freely in Nairobi because we recognise the creative sector as both a source of livelihoods and a powerful way of marketing our city to the world. We will not introduce measures that stifle that creativity,” Sakaja said.
The governor said the county would continue supporting the creative economy while establishing clearer rules for large-scale productions requiring significant use of public infrastructure.
Filmmakers raise concerns over costs
Despite the county’s clarification, the new charges have raised concerns among filmmakers and independent creators.
Industry players have questioned the significant difference between local and external commercial filming fees, with external productions paying more than six times the local per-shoot charge.
Independent filmmakers have also raised concerns over productions that require multiple filming days or locations.
For such projects, a per-shoot charge could accumulate significantly, potentially increasing production costs for smaller companies and independent producers.
There are also questions about how the county will distinguish ordinary digital content creation from commercial filming and how it will identify monetised influencer events.
