The entry of on-demand internet streaming media service Netflix in many regions worldwide has been met with a degree of excitement and anticipation. However, the experience has been somewhat different in Kenya, where the country's regulator for film and television content, the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB), opposed its move and vowed to regulate the service.

In a strongly worded statement to media houses, the chairman of KFCB, Jackson Kosgei questioned Netflix's ratings for Africa.

"Netflix has not yet begun ratings in Africa, and their age suitability do not conform to our regulatory laws. It is important for Kenya to benchmark against regulatory measures that are in force in such other jurisdictions as the United States of America, Australia, South Africa, Canada and France. In these countries Netflix's content is subjected to existing film regulations and has agreed to comply," Kosgei said.

In this letter he also described content on Netflix as "immoral".

"We note with great concert that Netflix's platform contains considerable amounts of inappropriate content with shockingly explicit eroticism, massive violence that attack the very foundation of our national values."

Kenya has served as a location of choice for Netflix, when Sense8 featured Nairobi in one of its story lines.

In a statement to Quartz magazine, Joris Evers, a spokesman for Netflix, said that they are not a traditional broadcaster. They empower consumers to make smart viewing choices by providing details on titles and ratings.

Joan Kabugu, a Kenyan filmmaker and writer, said that the KFCB has failed to regulate online downloads of films and television series and believes it is pretentious for them to try and regulate Netflix.

"Unless content is on a free to air medium, they do not have authority to limit Kenyans purchasing power," Kabugu told ITWeb Africa.

She said that, "As a filmmaker Netflix means that we have bigger platform to sell our work for premium rates ... October 1, the stellar Nigerian production had a good payday when they sold their movie to Netflix. This is a promise to ready market for our films and it will be a sad day if Kenyan filmmakers are not partakers of the piece of this cake."