Nakuru: The government is leveraging the Kenya Film School and funding initiatives to bolster the country's creative arts sector, aiming to establish a robust and sustainable creative economy. Basic Education Principal Secretary (PS) Julius Bitok highlighted the government's commitment to this sector through the establishment of a Creative Fund and a strategic marketing campaign to position Kenya as a prime destination for film production, which is anticipated to create essential job opportunities.
According to Kenya News Agency, PS Julius Bitok emphasized the potential of the creative economy during the official opening of the annual Kenya National Drama and Film Festival in Nakuru. He stated, "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."
Bitok underscored the creative economy as a viable job market capable of supporting up to 3 million Kenyans. The Creative Fund is designed to provide financial support to artists and assign an economic value to their intellectual property, facilitating a structured growth in the sector.
The Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) has been linked to the government's efforts to identify and nurture talent, focusing on the monetization and growth of artistic skills. The 10-day festival is themed 'Leveraging Technology to Nurture Talent While Inculcating National Values for Socio-Economic Prosperity' and sees participation from around 9,000 junior, secondary, and college students. The event also hosts an international conference and art exhibition, featuring guest appearances from scholars in theatre and film from various African countries.
PS Bitok assured that the CBC is progressing as anticipated, with infrastructure and teacher capacity issues in Grade 9 being effectively addressed. He further challenged educators to guide students toward professional creative spaces that will enhance their critical competencies.