Formerly the Kenya Film Censorship Board, it was established in 1930 and an Act of Parliament enacted in 1963— Films and Stage Plays Act (Cap 222)— to ensure that films screened to the public are in line with national aspirations and culture.

The board’s mandate includes classification of films, registration of video businesses and examination of posters, publicity materials and video inspections. The services that the board offers are to:

• Examine and classify new films as prescribed by the Films and Stage Plays Act and the Kenya Communication (Amendment) Act 2008.

• Prescribe guidelines in examination and classification of films.

• Monitor broadcasting, exhibition distribution of films to ensure that no film is distributed, exhibited or broadcast` publicly or privately unless the Broadcast has examined it and issued a certificate approval

Issue certificates and distributors and exhibitors of films

• Prescribe procedure for licensing of exhibitors and distributors.

Each film submitted to the board is reviewed and placed into a classification \rating-General exhibition (GE), Parental Guidance (PG), 16 and 18/A. Classification and rating are determined by:

• Amount and frequency of violence (crime)

• Amount and frequency of sex, horror and nudity

• Amount and frequency of drugs, tobacco, solvents and alcohol

• Amount and frequency of profanity, religion and community

• On violence and crime in films, the Board checks on excessive blood; dismembered or disfigured limbs and bodies; prolonged images of dead or seriously injured people; explicit cruelty or violence towards human beings or animals; celebration or glorification of crimes.

• On sex, obscenity and nudity, the Board rates nudity, exposure of fondling of female breasts, human or animal sexual organs and explicit images of sexual activities or pornography.

• On horror and occult, rating takes in account films that glorify or encourage horror and occult; instill fear or revulsion about the consequences of not following such practices

• Films that justify, Promote, encourage or glamorize use or misuse of drug related product, smoking, tobacco and alcohols are also classified.

• Any film that can incite disharmony, animosity, conflict, hatred or ill-will among religious groups, or communities or abuse of peoples religious beliefs are also a concern for the Board.

• Any application for video show or video library and cinema theatre must he accompanied by a letter of approval from the local chief or District Officer. The applicant fills a registration form that requires — name of the company or proprietor, address, estimated population to he served and health and safety standards undertaken,

• After the application is approved by a board official, a certificate is issued and must he renewed at the end of the year, It is worth noting that the year in this case ends after the expiry of twelve months from the date of issue.