Controversial Eldoret-based gospel singer William Getumbe has secured a major win against the Kenya Films Classification Board (KFCB).
Getumbe had filed a case at the High Court challenging KFCB’s decision to demand payment of over Ksh 243,000 in licence fees for the production of his controversial ‘Yesu Ninyandue’ hit song.
The singer had also challenged the board’s decision to order the removal of the song on social media.
In a judgment delivered on May 9, 2025, by Justice Lawrence Mugambi, the court said KFCB has no authority to demand for licences on content published on social media.
“The letter dated 29th February, 2024 is to the extent that it issued the petitioner with a sales invoice of Kenya Shillings 243, 200/- demanding licence fees for uploading the video is null and void,” the court ruled.
Are Kenyan content creators required to pay licence fees?
According to the court, the current legal procedures on licence fees is only applicable to conventional film studios and audiovisual recordings and that those posted on social media platforms are not covered.
“Any attempt to enforce those licensing requirements to the new trends without undertaking necessary changes that will bring arbitrariness,” justice Mugambi noted.
“The demand for payment of the said licence fees is thus rejected, as is null and void,” he added in a ruling seen by Uasin Gishu News.
Getumbe welcomed the ruling pointing out that the court it was a major win for artists and content creators.
“It’s a win for me and content content creators. The court has made it clear that a content creator does not need to pay KFCB any licence fee for production of videos,” he said.
“We have clipped their powers, they remain just regulators,” he added.
