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{
    "id": 936441,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/936441/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 144,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Sakaja",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13131,
        "legal_name": "Johnson Arthur Sakaja",
        "slug": "johnson-arthur-sakaja"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Speaker Sir. Pursuant to Standing Order No.47(1), I rise to make a Statement on the prohibitive licensing and operational costs levied on photographers and drone operators by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) and county governments. On 7th November, 2019, the KCAA announced the prohibition of the use of drones by photographers and videographers. This follows the levying of an exorbitant fee of Kshs1 million for a licence for the operation of drones. In addition to this, county governments have been charging photographers and filmmakers exorbitant rates to operate within their counties. This is more so in Nairobi City County where photographers are forced to pay about Kshs11,000 to shoot on the streets of Nairobi per day. Mr. Speaker, Sir, one of the greatest challenges in our society today is the high level of youth unemployment. Many of our young people who are talented and innovative have taken it upon themselves to pursue careers in the creative economy. In countries such as Nigeria, the creative economy has proven to be a frontier for job creation, being the sector that has the second highest employment rates for the youth. In these countries, their governments have taken deliberate action to create a conducive environment to nurture and grow the creative industry. On the converse, it seems as if there are elements within the Kenya Government that have also taken deliberate action to stifle and slow down the sector. The creative industry is heavily taxed and hurdles are being placed daily on the path of young creative Kenyans who only wish to use their God-given talents to eke out a living. A simple illustration would show that an average business operating a shop within the Nairobi Central Business District would pay an annual business permit of between Kshs10,000 to Kshs45,000 depending on the size of the entity. A photographer or videographer, on the other hand, who would wish to shoot once a week in Nairobi, has to pay about Kshs11,000. That comes close to Kshs400,000 a year. If they would further wish to employ the use of drone technology, they would need to pay Kshs1 million. That brings the total cost to Kshs1.4 million. This is definitely unfair to our young people. The exorbitant fees charged to filmmakers and photographers have led to international filmmakers opting to look for other destinations to shoot films even about Kenya, Safari, Lion King and Maasai Mara. Even the film on Wakanda should have been done here. The opportunity cost to our economy and our youth is much greater than the revenue from these licenses. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am glad that the Chairman of the Committee on Roads and Transportation and the Vice Chairperson of the Committee on Information and Technology are listening. This is a matter that we must look into seriously. Government agencies such as the KCAA and county governments must not be allowed to remain stuck in the past in this day and age of technological advancement and high rates of unemployment. Drone technology is being used all over the world today. When some The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}