Economy

Matatu lobby drops music video suit threat

dickson

Matatu Welfare Association (MWA) chairman Dickson Mbugua. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Matatu Welfare Association (MWA) has dropped threats to sue the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) over a directive requiring all public service vehicles (PSVs) to pay Sh2,000 in licence fees annually to exhibit music videos.

The lobby has been co-opted into a nine-member committee, made up of PSV and film agency officials, which is working to come up with rules for implementing the new law.

“We have agreed on the modalities for the implementation of the new directive,” said MWA chairman Dickson Mbugua on Wednesday in Nairobi.

The MWA, which represents the industry workers, had written to the film agency last week protesting a move to charge PSVs an extra fee for playing music.

READ: KFCB imposes Sh2,000 licence fee to play music videos

They also demanded that the directive be suspended immediately saying the law was not subjected to public participation.

On Tuesday, Mr Mbugua said the members of the ad hoc committee would set a timeline within which all PSVs must comply with the new law and called upon PSV drivers to comply.

KFCB chief executive Ezekiel Mutua has reiterated that there would be no going back on the new directive. “We are here to protect children from exposure to bad content,” he said.