The Kenya Film Classification Board unveiled the cine-mobile truck, a flagship of the organisation’s Sinema Mashinani initiative, at the recent International Youth Day celebrations in Kakamega.

The Cine-Mobile is no ordinary truck. It boasts a 63-square-metre LED screen housed in a container and powered by a hydraulic lift system. Complete with its own generator and a high-capacity sound system, it can serve audiences of up to 800 people, making it a fully mobile cinema capable of travelling to the country’s most remote corners.

The project aims to tackle persistent challenges in Kenya’s film industry, chief among them the lack of content classification facilities and limited platforms for showcasing local productions. In addition, the organisation is committed to growing the sector.

“As the Government Agency mandated to regulate the creation, broadcasting, possession, distribution, and exhibition of audio-visual content in Kenya, we are committed to creating a facilitative regulatory environment to spur the growth of the film sector,” KFCB said in a statement.

By physically bringing the big screen to rural areas, the project bridges the gap between creatives and audiences who have traditionally been separated by geography and infrastructure.

President William Ruto unveiled the Cine-Mobile during International Youth Day celebrations at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, emphasising the government’s responsibility in creating opportunities for the youth.

“The single most decisive force that will shape Kenya’s destiny… is the young people. Our youth are the builders of today, architects of the future, and the driving engine powering Kenya’s rise to greatness,” he said.

Supporting young filmmakers at the grassroots level

But the cine-mobile goes far beyond movie nights and entertainment.

The initiative focuses on identifying and nurturing creative talent at the grassroots level, supporting the creation, distribution, and exhibition of films that celebrate Kenya’s culture, moral values, and national aspirations.

It also aligns with the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) by opening new pathways for youth employment and creative enterprise.

The Cine-Mobile also serves as a platform for advocating clean content consumption, helping to instil positive values through theatre and film.

At its core, the Sinema Mashinani programme is about decentralising film regulation, giving rural creatives the same access and exposure as their urban counterparts.

Speaking at the launch, the acting KFCB CEO, Paskal Opiyo, said: “The ‘Sinema Mashinani’ core objectives are twofold: To streamline film regulation across the country and to create sustainable opportunities for job and wealth creation within the creative industry.”