Sakaja Saves 3 Photographers Arrested In Nairobi CBD

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, on Sunday, May 7, demanded the release of three photographers who were arrested in the Central Business District (CBD).

The trio, Duncan Mukinde, Karanja Wangui and Phaustine Okello were arrested for operating illegally in the city by way of not having business permits.

In a statement, the governor however affirmed that he sought the release of the trio from police custody and reiterated his stand on freelance photographers being spared from paying their business permits before being allowed to shoot in the city.

A photographer in the streets of Nairobi with a client. /STANDARD DIGITAL

"I’ve asked for their release. Photographers and filmmakers are allowed to film with ease and not harassed. County officers get it.

"We’re working with the Police to be similarly aligned on it. They will be released. Thanks for raising this," he wrote.

Activist Boniface Mwangi highlighted the plight of the freelance photographers and called for Sakaja's intervention while netizens condemned the police for the trio's arrest.

"The three creatives were arrested in the CBD for 'unauthorised photography' and when they informed the police, Sakaja said it's allowed, the police added another charge, 'incitement.' They are currently being held at Central Police Station," Mwangi noted.

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino was also of the belief that the youths should be allowed to carry out their businesses freely without any form of harassment.

"They should be given an opportunity to earn a living. Police must stop unlawful arrests," he pointed out.

On September 23, 2022, Sakaja directed that freelance photographers and filmmakers operating within Nairobi County be exempted from paying for their business permits, adding that he would direct the amendment of “archaic” laws which he said 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 previously termed the abolishment of the laws as one that would stop harassment of traders and creatives by City Hall officials.

Creatives, especially photographers and videographers, were for long periods embroiled in a mini-war with county officials over requirements to be allowed to shoot in the capital.

Usually, they 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 Ksh5,000 for a single day.