Dennis Itumbi, the Head of Creative Economy and Special Projects, has declared war on digital piracy in Kenya. He has identified 84 illegal movie sites for immediate closure.
This move is part of a high-pressure, 14-day mission to secure his position and revitalise the country's creative sector.
A ‘Heartbreaking’ Necessity
Itumbi admitted that the crackdown might be unpopular with many Kenyans who rely on these platforms. He acknowledged that some of the closures would be difficult for the public to accept.
"Some of them will break your hearts, but we have to do what we got to do to protect the creative economy," he explained during a recent update.
The list of targets includes several platforms that are household names for internet users. Goojara, 123 movies, and Cineb.gg are among those set to be shut down. Other sites on the list include ftmov.co and streammx.sh.
"The run to save my job is still on course and in 14 working days it will be achieved,” he added.
Staggering Numbers
The scale of the piracy problem is evident in the traffic data being monitored by the government. One site alone, Goojara, currently sees 2.9 million visits every day. This adds up to 18.8 million visits per month.
Itumbi believes that redirecting this massive audience to legal channels is essential for the survival of local filmmakers. By removing illegal competition, the government hopes to ensure that Kenyan creators are finally paid for their work.
The Research Strategy
The crackdown follows a week of intensive research and consultation. Between day four and day eight of his mission, Itumbi focused on documentation and listening to industry stakeholders.
He received requests from numerous individuals wanting to contribute ideas through WhatsApp messages and phone calls. Groups such as the Filmmakers Hangout have also reached out to offer their expertise on the matter.
"I spent the last four days just going through those ideas, listening to people and also researching what other countries have done," Itumbi stated.
He noted that the goal is to create a working framework that balances policy with direct action.
Collective Action
The initiative is not a solo effort. Itumbi is working closely with the Communication Authority of Kenya. The Standing Committee on Piracy at the Ministry of ICT is also heavily involved in identifying the illegal sites.
A pilot phase for the shutdowns is scheduled to begin immediately. This will test the technical framework before a full-scale rollout across the country. Itumbi emphasised that taking action is now more important than just discussing theoretical plans.
