Creative economy
The Creative Economy Bill 2026: what Kenyan creators should know
Chrisphine Otieno · 19 Oct 2026 · 2 min read
Kenya's creative economy, its filmmakers, musicians, writers, designers and digital creators, is the subject of a proposed law. The Creative Economy Bill 2026 would create a Kenya Audio-Visual and Cinema Commission to promote the industry and a regulator that licenses audiovisual production and distribution, including online and streaming platforms operating in Kenya, according to a summary by BAKE.
The bill has drawn both support and concern. Supporters see structure, promotion and funding for an industry that has long felt neglected. Critics, as NewsTrendsKE reported, say the design focuses heavily on audiovisual content, leaving musicians, writers and digital creators without a clear home, and that without revenue or user thresholds ordinary creators could be treated as unlicensed operators.
At the same time, the 2026/27 budget proposed Ksh8.6 billion for the creative economy and the digital superhighway together, reported KBC, which observers noted was a second consecutive reduction.
What creators should watch
This is not legal advice, and the bill may change as it moves through Parliament. Points worth following:
- Who needs a licence: whether thresholds will exempt small creators, students and hobbyists
- What counts as distribution: whether posting on social platforms is covered
- Fees and processes: how much licensing costs and how long it takes
- Funding: whether promotion bodies bring real money for production and training
- Rights: how the law treats copyright, collective management and AI-generated work
Why AI makes the questions harder
AI tools have made it possible for one person to produce video, music and images that once required a studio. That widens the creative economy and blurs its edges. A law designed for film studios may fit poorly with a creator who makes AI-assisted music videos from a bedroom in Kisumu.
Creators, platforms and policymakers will need to answer new questions: who owns AI-assisted work, how consent for likeness and voice is protected, and how licensing applies to content made with AI tools.
What creators can do now
- Read the summaries and the bill itself. Understand what is proposed.
- Join the conversation. Industry associations, guilds and public participation forums are where changes are made.
- Keep records. Contracts, licences, consent forms and receipts for tools and music.
- Respect others' rights. Use only music, images and likenesses you have permission to use.
Where Tari Studio stands
Tari Studio is a tool for making AI images and video ads. We ask everyone who uses it to include only people who agreed to appear, to never imitate a real person without permission, and to respect the rights of others. Our privacy policy explains how we handle the data you give us. As Kenya's rules for creative work evolve, we will follow them and explain what changes for our users.