The government is relying on the Kenya Film School and funding incentives to strengthen and anchor the creative arts economy in the country.
Basic Education Principal Secretary (PS) Julius Bitok stated that the establishment of the school, a Creative Fund, and a marketing campaign to position Kenya as a preferred destination for film production will generate much-needed jobs.
“The creative economy is a multibillion industry. We want to see our youth not just performing but also earning from their skills. Through the Creative Economy Support Bill and the proposed Creative Fund, we are laying the groundwork for a structured and lucrative creative sector,” said Bitok.
Speaking during the official opening of the annual Kenya National Drama and Film Festival in Nakuru, Bitok said the creative economy was a viable job market that could support up to 3 million Kenyans.
The Creative Fund will offer financial assistance to artists and assign an economic value to their intellectual property.
The PS linked the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) to the government effort to identify and nurture talent for monetisation and growth of artistic talent.
The 10-day exhibition of performances is centred around the theme “Leveraging Technology to Nurture Talent While Inculcating National Values for Socio-Economic Prosperity”.
Around 9,000 Junior, secondary and college students are participating in the event that features an international conference alongside an art exhibition.
It will also attract guest appearances from scholars in theatre and film from several African countries.
The PS said that the Competency-Based Curriculum is progressing as planned, noting that issues regarding infrastructure and teacher capacity in Grade 9 have been effectively resolved.
The PS challenged teachers to guide learners into professional creative spaces that will aid their critical competencies.
By Joseph Kamolo Mutua
