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KENYA SCRIPTWRITERS GUILD
CONCEPT PAPER
INTRODUCTION
The digital migration of 2013/2014 initiated by the Kenyan government
through the Communications Commission of Kenya has created a huge
demand for local (Kenyan) film and television content. This means that:
o More professional writers of audiovisual works are needed.
o International standards of story development of audiovisual works
must be followed.
o The quality of scripts, plays and film must be raised.
It is anticipated that a professional organization consisting of members and
industry stakeholders should be set up to develop this. It will be the gold
standard for accessing professional scriptwriting services within the
entertainment audiovisual industry. It will cater for the royalty, rights
management and welfare of original Kenyan audio-visual works produced by
writers. Kenya Scriptwriters Guild (formerly Kenya Writers Guild) was
established in 2014.
PURPOSE
Kenyan writers on television, film, theatre and recently, the web, have been
working independently of each other for several years. This has been a
disadvantage to the development of the entertainment industry since writers
producing audiovisual works do not have an organization that caters to their
professional need.
Writers of original audiovisual works in Kenya, like any other profession,
require a self-regulating body that will look into their welfare regardless of
their status in life. These writers include:
 Screenwriters
 Radio playwrights
 Theatre playwrights
OBJECTIVES
The Kenya Scriptwriters Guild will be a registered professional organization
that will represent Kenyan writers of audiovisual works in television, film,
theatre, Internet and radio. The organization will aim to:
1. Create goodwill among stakeholders in the media industry to be
signatories to the Kenya Scriptwriters Guild.
2. Provide a central point for legal protection of original written
audiovisual works.

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3. Become the central database of professional writers of audiovisual
works.
4. Set up legal representation and ethics framework to resolve disputes
among writers of audiovisual works or between such writers and
external parties.
5. Set up regular meetings to discuss audiovisual work writers’ welfare.
6. Set up regular training opportunities, workshops and seminars to foster
audiovisual work writers’ creative skills and legal etiquette.
7. Set up standards to be met by professional writers of audiovisual
works.
8. Set up branches within the Republic of Kenya to develop and promote
the interests of Kenyan audiovisual work writers, who are members of
the Guild.
9. Promote the art and craft of audiovisual work writers.
10. Ensure fair compensation for writers of audiovisual works.
11. Ensure credible management and collection of audiovisual work
writers’ fees and royalties.
12. Provide an authoritative body to protect members of the guild from
organizations or individuals whose normal business cannot fairly be
classified as solely or predominantly that of a film or television
practitioner.
13. Provide a guide to non-TV/Film organisation on how to engage and
work with Kenyan writers of audiovisual works.
14. Provide a forum for members to raise criticisms, problems and matters
for the general benefit of the entire film industry.
To meet these objectives, we meet regularly and organize workshops.
Nairobi’s Pawa 254 Creative Hub agreed to sponsor us with space for each of
these meetings. We also work with Kenya Film Commission, BFMA (AITEC
Africa), Ubuni Creative Center and various universities such as USIU, Kenyatta
and Daystar. The first meeting was on 8th
Feb 2014. We have social media
presence through Kenya Scriptwriters and Scriptwriter’s forum on Facebook.
OFFICIALS
The officials of Kenya Writers Guild include:
o Chairperson - Keith Kinambuga
o Vice Chairperson – Cajetan Boy
o Secretary - Wangeci Kanyeki
o Assistant Secretary - Jackline Emali
o Treasurer - Joseph Gitau aka Tash Mitambo
Our legal advisor is:
o Deborah Wanjugu, LLB

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PLEASE CONTACT THE BELOW FOR ANY QUERIES
Keith Kinambuga Ndenga
Chairperson
Kenya Scriptwriters Guild
Tel: +254 770 425647
e-mail: knkinambuga@gmail.com
kenyascriptwriters@gmail.com