NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenyan actress and filmmaker Nice Githinji has made history after becoming East Africa’s first certified intimacy coordinator, marking a significant milestone in efforts to improve safety and consent on film and television sets.
Githinji announced the achievement on social media, celebrating her certification through Safe Sets Intimacy Coordinators and its approval by SAG-AFTRA. She also paid tribute to her late mother in an emotional message before expressing her determination to continue working in the specialised field.
The Kenya Film Commission (KFC) subsequently celebrated her achievement, describing it as an important development for Kenya’s film industry and its efforts to promote safer, more professional working environments.
In her announcement, Githinji wrote: “I am FINALLY a SAG-AFTRA approved Intimacy Coordinator thanks to Safe Sets Intimacy Coordinators.”
She added: “The first IC in the East African region.”
The actress also acknowledged her late mother, writing, “Sisemi mengi isipokua, mamangu anafanya kazi overtime huko juu,” which translates to, “I won’t say much, except my mother is working overtime up above.”
She concluded the message with “Sasa kazi iendelee!” meaning, “Now, let the work continue!”
The announcement marked a new chapter in Githinji’s career, which spans acting, filmmaking, producing and directing.
Nice Githinji’s Journey Into Intimacy Coordination
Githinji did not enter the field through a conventional career route. She initially explored online learning resources from Intimacy Directors & Coordinators (IDC), a platform that provides training and resources for professionals working in film, television and theatre.
She later trained under South African director and intimacy coordinator Sara Blecher through a programme supported by MultiChoice Talent Factory and the German development organisation GIZ in 2024.
The programme helped introduce intimacy coordination to local industry professionals while providing specialised training for productions involving sensitive scenes.
Githinji subsequently worked on projects including MTV Shuga Mashariki, Transaction and Tuki? (Tukisonga). The short film Transaction received a selection for the International Film Festival Rotterdam in 2025.
Her experience as an actress also informed her interest in the profession.
Speaking to The Standard, Githinji reflected on situations she encountered during her acting career, saying: “I’ve ended up in situations where I thought I had the power but I didn’t because as an actor, I didn’t really know my rights.”
Her experience highlighted the importance of giving performers a clearer understanding of their rights and establishing professional safeguards when productions require intimate performances.
What Does an Intimacy Coordinator Do?
An intimacy coordinator works with actors, directors and production teams to plan scenes involving kissing, nudity, simulated sex and other forms of physical intimacy.
The professional helps establish boundaries, communicate expectations and choreograph intimate scenes before filming begins. The role also involves ensuring that actors understand what a scene requires and that production teams respect the agreed conditions.
Intimacy coordinators can help arrange modesty garments, physical barriers and closed-set procedures to protect performers’ privacy during filming.
The work does not prevent directors from telling emotionally complex stories. Instead, it gives actors and production teams a structured process for achieving the intended performances while respecting consent and dignity.
SAG-AFTRA’s published standards for intimacy coordinators emphasise consent, communication, appropriate training and continued attention to performers’ boundaries throughout production.
The profession has gained greater recognition internationally as film industries seek more consistent approaches to handling sensitive scenes.
Githinji Wants Intimacy Coordination to Become the Norm
Githinji has previously spoken about the need for the Kenyan film industry to embrace intimacy coordination rather than treat it as an unfamiliar or unnecessary addition to production.
In an April 2026 interview with Sinema Focus, she said: “Intimacy coordination is very new in the world, but it’s even newer for Kenya.”
She continued: “My hope is that sooner or later, it becomes the new normal because everyone’s mind, body and soul has to be protected on set, whether cast or crew.”
Githinji has also argued that African productions should approach intimacy as a legitimate part of storytelling rather than avoid it altogether.
“As Africans, we tend to hide intimacy, as if it isn’t a natural part of life,” she told Sinema Focus.
“But if we’re telling authentic stories, we must show humans in full. African love is rich, complex, beautiful, and it deserves to be seen with the same care as any other part of our identity.”
A Milestone for Kenya’s Film Industry
Githinji’s certification comes as Kenya’s film and television industry continues to explore ways to strengthen professional standards and improve conditions on production sets.
Her qualification also creates an opportunity for Kenyan productions to access specialised expertise locally rather than rely exclusively on professionals from outside the region.
As more productions embrace formal intimacy protocols, coordinators can help actors understand their boundaries, ensure that intimate scenes follow agreed choreography and address concerns before they escalate.
