The Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) has increased monitoring of online platforms and inspection of audiovisual premises for the next three months to protect children from inappropriate content.
The Board on Tuesday, October 27, said it is working with other government agencies to increase compliance for premises such as gaming hubs where children could be exposed to adult content and illegal filming.
The advisory comes after primary and secondary schools closed for the third term, ushering in the long end-of-year holiday which began on October 23, with learners expected to resume in January 2027.
With learners spending nearly two months away from school, KFCB warned that increased screen time could expose children to inappropriate material on television, streaming services, social media and gaming platforms.
School buses lined up to transport students and teachers back to Molo after a trip to Nairobi, August 5, 2026.
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In its advisory, KFCB urged content distributors, broadcasters, exhibitors, video-show operators and gaming platform operators to comply with licensing and content classification requirements.
“The board is collaborating with other relevant government agencies to intensify monitoring and compliance throughout the holiday season, both online and offline,” KFCB stated.
The agency added that its monitoring would cover premises where children may be admitted and potentially exposed to adult content and illegal filming and content posted on social media platforms.
To further prevent children’s exposure to inappropriate content, the board urged parents, guardians and caregivers to take a more active role in monitoring what children watch and access online.
The board advised parents to activate parental controls, set appropriate screen-time limits and ensure their children use platforms that offer age-appropriate content.
"Parents are further advised to engage children in conversations about what they watch, listen to and encounter online, promote educational and family-friendly content," KFCB advised.
Beyond online safety, the Board urged parents and guardians to remain attentive to children's whereabouts, peer interactions and the environments they visit during the holiday.
It warned that children could face other harmful influences, including substance abuse, which could negatively affect their behaviour, moral values and overall development.
The law provides penalties for people and businesses that expose children to harmful content, with the punishment depending on the offence committed.
Under the Children Act, 2022, offences involving obscene material made accessible to children electronically can attract imprisonment, fines of up to Ksh2 million, or both.
The Kenya Film Classification Board's Acting CEO Paskal Opiyo during a stakeholder forum on December 9, 2024.
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KFCB