The prevalent violence that has lead to blatant destruction of the country's physical and none physical infrastructure as well as the impression so created that the country is on fire has impacted the film sector retrogressively and we are still counting the losses. It is evident that many of our practitioners have witnessed cancellation of contract after contract as many opportunities for location shoots wither away as major local and international productions cite insecurity as a reason for cancellation or postponement of projects. The violence that has been experienced in the greater Rift, Western Kenya , the sporadic skirmishes in various urban localities have locked out filmmakers from continuing with their work.

In the short run it is important to note that the industry contributes more than 3 Billion shillings annually to Kenya's economy and employs a large number of Kenyan actors, artists, filmmakers and producers directly while indirectly contributes to many other allied industries that are now at risk of grinding to a halt due to the prevalent insecurity in many of our locations. To create new momentum after a halt will require monumental effort to rebuild lost opportunities. The Kenya Film Commission has been at the forefront of facilitating for the development of film industry investment and infrastructure, marketing Kenya as a leading filming location and as a centre for excellence in film production. It is therefore critical to note that the country stands to lose huge filming opportunities both at a national and international stage to our competing destinations in Africa as well as other parts of the world.

It is not too late to regain what has been lost and we want to appeal for calm, tolerance, coexistence and cessation of violence to give dialogue a chance and relieve the country of the reality that will soon become evident as critical economic activity grinds to a halt. After all is said and done our industries will still need to provide jobs and opportunities for economic growth. If the current events are not managed to protect the fragile nature of key economic sectors we will all loose in the end.  

The film industry and Kenya is in crisis.
Last year, Film production in Kenya injected approximately 2 Billion Kenya shillings into the economy.

Everyone benefited - from air charter companies, transport companies, Hotels, to the small scale farmer selling eggs to the caterers that feed the crews. Our industry is that diverse. Film production generates revenue in every sector of the Kenyan economy in some form or another.

A vibrant international industry also inspires and nurtures local talent. Kenyan filmmakers are an emerging force and are gaining recognition around the world. International Investors are looking to Kenya as a talent pool and are or were funding Kenyan filmmakers to realise their voice and vision.

Kenya is showcased throughout the world through cinema, television and press. The film industry has positively marketed Kenya for decades. Over 20 years ago, ‘Out of Africa’ sold Kenya as the world’s Safari destination and tourists were still coming to Kenya until January this year…Kenya could not have paid for better advertising!

Kenya as a filming location attracts investment, development, recognition, employment, stability. All things we appear to have forgotten.

Kenya’s reputation as a stable, safe and friendly nation is in tatters. International crews are cancelling, postponing or simply going elsewhere. Kenya now has no-go areas for any crews local or international.

Everyone in our industry is feeling the effects of the current instability as are the Hotels and other sectors. Beyond the economic losses, we have also lost valued crew members to the senseless violence in parts of the country.

Ironically one of the few good reports we’ve received is from a wildlife crew filming in one of our National Parks. The crew report they are able to film animals without interruption. The lodges are empty and the rarest animal in our parks are in fact the tourists!

Television screens around the world portrayed Kenya on the verge civil war. Insurance companies are refusing to insure foreign crews to travel to Kenya. Who in their right mind would come to Kenya now anyway?

This is not the Kenya we all voted for. As an industry on the brink we demand that our politicians put their differences aside and continue working towards resolving the crisis.
The KFTPA is working closing with the Kenya Film Commission and other stakeholder to devise appropriate incentives to rejuvenate the industry.

We would also like specific assurances from the government guaranteeing the safety and security of film crews, both foreign and local to enable them to work anywhere in Kenya.
The world perceives Kenya through the media. The film industry plays an important role marketing and creating Kenya as a choice destination. With an insecure Kenya, the world looks elsewhere, revenues drop, the economy suffers, jobs are lost, people go hungry and crime and insecurity increases.

Stop fighting and start talking!

Our industry demands it, our economy demands it and Kenya demands it.

Thank you.
THE KENYA FILM AND TV PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION (K.F.T.P.A)

Ingolo wa Keya – Chairman, K.N.F.A

We the members of the Kenya National Film Association, and the film industry fraternity in general, are deeply concerned with the current unfortunate political trend that has resulted in the massive loss of lives, damage and destruction of property; and which has also internally displaced hundreds of thousands of our dear Kenyans in their own country!!!

The image and pride of our beautiful country is severely dented, as security is no longer guaranteed to the citizens as well as to visitors who come to this country in droves.

The import of this unfortunate turn of events is that investment, whether local and foreign can no longer be trusted to this country. Film, and by extension the cultural and the entire entertainment industry, has been dealt a severe blow.

We deeply empathize with those that have lost their loved ones through the senseless killings, and all those who have lost their property and livelihood attributed to the post election “triggered” violence.

We therefore call upon all the political leaders to come to terms with the suffering of the Kenyan people, and impress upon their constituents to desist forthwith from acts of violence and spare this country from further destruction.

As players in the film industry, we are also counting the losses that have been occasioned by this unfortunate and grave situation. With the continued skirmishes, this industry is losing billions of shillings; further aggravating the unemployment problem that this country is experiencing. IT WILL TAKE THIS COUNTRY, YEARS TO RECOUP FROM THIS LOSS.

The current turn of events also underline the seemingly deep rooted ethnic animosity that exists in this country: a situation that we all need to address for this country to avoid going the same path that other nations have sadly experienced through ethnic cleansing!!!

We call upon our dear colleagues in Film, the Creative and Performing Arts to use their creative talent and medium to heal this nation. Let us use our God given gift of expression to spread the word of peace, and the need to respect the sanctity of life, for posterity sake!!!!

MAY GOD FORGIVE US AND BLESS OUR COUNTRY, KENYA