Ruto awards Ksh.150 million to schools that performed at Kenya Music Festival

Ruto said the funding will enable the participating institutions to improve their infrastructure and create a stronger foundation for nurturing creative talent.

With close to 30 institutions participating, the allocation is expected to amount to more than Ksh.150 million.

“There are close to 30 institutions participating in this event. I am asking the Ministry of Education, as a show of gratitude and appreciation for your hard work and talent, to provide Ksh.5 million for every institution and every school that has participated here so that you can improve the infrastructure that will support these creatives going into the future,” Ruto stated.

The President made the announcement as he outlined plans by his administration to strengthen Kenya's creative economy and expand opportunities for young people to develop and monetise their talents.

Ruto announced plans to establish the Kenya National Talent Search, a programme intended to identify and nurture talent and innovation across the country.

The initiative will cover fields including music, comedy, acting, poetry, film, dance and sport, among other creative disciplines.

“The Government, working with the private sector, will therefore establish the Kenya National Talent Search to identify talent and innovation in music, comedy, acting, poetry, film, dance, sport, and other fields throughout the year and in every part of Kenya,” Ruto stated.

He directed the State Department for Youth to work with the Creative Economy Office and the Sports Fund to roll out the programme without further delay.

“The State Department for Youth, working in close collaboration with my Creative Economy Office and with the support of the Sports Fund, must now move with urgency to roll out the programme without further delay,” he stated.

Ruto said Deputy President Kithure Kindiki would oversee government support and coordination for the initiative.

He further proposed that the inaugural edition of the National Talent Search be themed “Kenya Beyond 2030”, aligning the programme with the country's long-term development agenda.

Meanwhile, Ruto announced plans to expand the proposed smart city development in Bungoma, directing the Ministry of Housing to redesign the project to accommodate more residents.

“Outside State Lodge here, we're building a smart city, and I have instructed the Ministry of Housing that the smart city, originally designed for 14 floors, should be redesigned to be 24 floors to accommodate more people because we're not only building a smart city but complete city development with proper shopping, learning and medical spaces,” Ruto stated.

He said similar developments would be pursued in other parts of the country.

“We're not just doing that in Bungoma but in every part of Kenya,” he stated.

The President also called on Parliament to fast-track two pieces of legislation aimed at strengthening the creative economy and protecting artists.

Ruto said the Copyright Bill and the Creative Economy Bill, which are currently before Parliament, would help ensure artists are fairly compensated for their work while strengthening legal protections for creatives.

“I urge Parliament to fast-track their consideration to strengthen the protection of our creatives and accelerate the formalisation of the creative economy.”