Nairobi County has introduced new fees targeting filmmakers, content creators, influencers, streaming platforms and other businesses in the digital entertainment industry.
The new charges are contained in the Nairobi County 2026 Finance Act and will affect different activities, including commercial filming, music-video production, online entertainment and monetised events.
Under the new rules, local producers will pay KSh8,000 for every commercial filming session. External producers will pay a higher fee of KSh50,000 for each shooting session.
Religious and private filming will attract a KSh8,000 charge, while music-video production will cost KSh10,000 per production.
Content creators who operate studios will also be required to pay KSh40,000 annually.
The county has also introduced charges for digital businesses. Local streaming platforms will pay KSh100,000 every year, while digital content platforms will be charged KSh80,000 annually.
Influencers who organise monetised events will also be required to pay KSh10,000 for each event.
The new rules also affect traditional media and entertainment businesses. Television stations will pay KSh200,000 annually, while radio stations will pay KSh150,000.
Cinemas and theatres will be charged KSh100,000 annually for each screen, while online entertainment events will attract a KSh15,000 fee.
The new charges mean that Nairobi County is bringing more activities in the growing digital and creative economy into its revenue system.
However, the changes could create additional pressure for small content creators and independent filmmakers who work with limited budgets.
For local filmmakers, the KSh8,000 charge is applied per shooting session. This means producers who work on several projects or conduct many filming sessions could end up paying a large amount over time.
The higher KSh50,000 fee for external commercial producers could also affect companies coming to Nairobi to shoot advertisements, films and other productions.
The county's decision comes as Nairobi's creative industry continues to grow, with more young people earning income through online content, filming, digital advertising and entertainment.
The new system is expected to increase county revenue while bringing emerging digital businesses under a formal regulatory framework.
However, content creators and other players in the industry may raise concerns over the cost of the new fees and how the county will enforce them.
The changes are likely to attract more attention as Nairobi continues to position itself as a major centre for film, entertainment and digital content in Kenya.