Addressing the audience at the Sagana State Lodge in Nyeri County during the National Drama and Film Festival Winners’ State Concert, the President unveiled ambitious strategies aimed at elevating Kenyan talent onto the world stage.
President Ruto disclosed that his administration had established significant partnerships with renowned global entities, including Grammy Global Ventures and Invention Studios. These collaborations are anticipated to lay the groundwork for the creation of the Pan African Recording Academy, potentially positioning Kenya as the African hub for these influential organizations.
Expressing confidence in Kenya’s creative prowess, President Ruto asserted, “We will soon witness Kenyans making waves in Hollywood productions,” underscoring his vision for local talents to garner international recognition.
In a pivotal move for the education sector, President Ruto instructed the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) to design specialized training programs for educators in the performing arts. This initiative aims to enhance the competency-based curriculum, particularly in Junior Secondary, where performing arts and Sports Science have been recently integrated.
Ruto emphasized the importance of tailored educational frameworks to support the growth of creative industries, stating, “Our objective is to nurture a cohort of educators proficient not only in the arts but also in fostering the success of our young talents both domestically and globally.”
Highlighting the government’s dedication to leveraging digital platforms, President Ruto disclosed lucrative agreements with Byte Dance, the parent company of TikTok, and Meta, which owns platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram. These partnerships are geared towards monetizing content generated by Kenyan youths, providing a new revenue avenue and increased exposure for local creators.
During the event, numerous schools and educational institutions were lauded for their outstanding performances in the drama and film festival. Notably, Butere Girls clinched the Communications of Kenya Challenge trophy, while Nyeri National Polytechnic was commended for the best play by a TVET institution, an award sponsored by the Kenya Revenue Authority.
Givavee Friends Primary School, Mombasa Secondary School, and a team from the Nairobi region were also recognized for their remarkable contributions to the festival, which drew a participation of nearly 24,000 individuals this year, according to Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu.
Machogu reiterated that the festival not only showcases Kenya’s abundant talent but also serves as a springboard for the youth to venture into global creative arenas, echoing the sentiments expressed by the President.
