Sakaja exempts freelance photographers, filmmakers from paying for business permits

Freelance photographers and filmmakers operating within Nairobi County are now exempted from paying for their business permits.

This follows a pronouncement by Governor Johnson Sakaja last week that he will direct the amendment of “archaic” laws which he said have inhibited photography, videography, film and the broader creative industry in Nairobi. 

Nairobi County Executive Committee Member for Finance and Economic Planning, Lawrence Wambua, in a memo to his Trade and Industrialisation counterpart directed that the photographers and filmmakers be granted a waiver.

“In exercise of the power given under the PFM Act 2012, Section 159 and the Nairobi City Council Tax Waivers Administration Act, 2013 Section 5 (2)(C), approval is hereby given that Freelance photographers and Freelance filmmakers are given waiver/exemption from payment of Single Business Permit as charged under the Nairobi City County Trade Licensing Act, 2019,” read the memo dated September 23.

The Nairobi County boss had last week said abolishment of the laws would stop harassment of traders and creatives by City Hall officials.

“When we say we want to be pro-business it is not just passive to stop harassment of traders but we want to be proactive to facilitate and promote. There are many archaic laws including those that hamper creativity and innovation and we are going to weed those out,” he said on Thursday. 

Sakaja added: “Businesspeople should spend more time doing business and not chasing compliance issues,” he said. 

Creatives, especially photographers and videographers, have for long been engaged in a tussle with county officials over requirements to be allowed to shoot in the capital.

Usually, they have had to obtain a permit from the Department of Filming Services, through a filming agent, a letter from the police, and fork out amounts of up to around Ksh.5,000 for a single day.