Investors Urged to Invest More in Cinema Theatre Exhibition

The Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) Ag. CEO Mr. Christopher Wambua, has urged investors to invest more in cinema exhibitions in order to satisfy the local market and promote the cinema-going culture.

The Ag CEO was speaking when he joined film industry players during the re-opening of Anga Imax Cinema theatre, Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) on 15th December, 202

Mr. Wambua observed that currently, there are 22 cinema screens from various cinema theatres across the country, which translates to about 2 million people per screen.

“The situation is aggravated by the fact that the available cinema screens are concentrated in the main cities of Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and Eldoret,” he said.

Wambua noted that Kenya’s investment in cinema screens is below the African average of 1 screen per approximately 787,000 people. 

The theatre closed in 2020 due to the vagaries of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We recognize the important role film exhibitors play in the world as the key purveyors of our culture and also to educate, entertain, influence, and exploit our creative potential," the Ag CEO said.

He applauded Anga Imax for committing to showcase more local content, adding that it won’t hurt if the film sector also committed to exhibiting 60 percent of locally produced content in the cinema theatres.

The event was graced by the Kenya Film Commission (KFC) CEO, Mr. Timothy Owase, who encouraged local filmmakers to continue telling stories that promote Kenya's culture, values and national aspirations.

Other dignitaries present at the red-carpet event were; Nairobi City County Women Representative, Hon Esther Passaris, and Dagoretti North MP Hon. Beatrice Elachi, among others.