Hollywood style film safety standards are finally gaining ground in East Africa, as Kenyan actress and film director Nice Githinji becomes the region’s first certified intimacy coordinator, raising fresh questions about how intimate scenes are handled behind the cameras.
Githinji’s certification marks a milestone for Kenya’s film and television industry, where productions are increasingly recognising the need for safer, more professional working environments for actors.
The Kenya Film Commission announced the development, describing it as a step towards promoting respectful and safer working conditions across film and television productions.
Intimacy coordinators work with actors and production teams to choreograph intimate scenes, establish boundaries and ensure performers give informed consent before filming. Their role can include negotiating physical contact, clarifying expectations and helping directors achieve their creative vision without compromising actors’ comfort or dignity.
The profession has gained prominence internationally amid growing conversations about consent, power imbalances and professional conduct in the entertainment industry.
Githinji’s achievement could therefore help introduce more structured practices into East African productions, where intimate scenes may require clearer guidelines on consent, communication and performers’ personal boundaries.
Her certification places her at the forefront of an emerging area of film production, potentially opening the door for greater awareness and adoption of intimacy coordination across the region.
