Pupils perform during the ongoing 97th Kenya National Music Festivals in Meru. /SCREENGRABWhen the spotlight fades after the State Gala, most young Music Festival top performers carry home nothing but medals, certificates and memories.
For some, the applause echoes for weeks; for others, it is the quiet end of a journey that began in dusty classrooms and crowded rehearsal halls.
Now, Basic Education PS Julius Bitok wants that applause to travel further—beyond county borders and Kenya’s theatres into the global arena.
“Why should Nationals or the State Gala be the peak? We are preparing a proposal to be presented to the President during the Gala, for Kenya’s best to represent us globally. This will be part of his legacy in arts and culture,” Bitok proclaimed at the ongoing 97th Kenya National Music Festivals in Meru.
For dozens of young singers, dancers and poets whose lives pivot on those gala moments, the announcement on Wednesday stakes a claim for their art to be seen on the world stage.
The best of the 96th Kenya National Music Festival items were performed during the State Concert in Eldoret on Friday, August 16, 2024.
The 97th Edition of the Kenya Music Festival, initially set to begin on August 2, 2025, started on Monday, August 4 at the Meru Teachers College, Meru School and Kaaga Girls High School.
In a circular to education officials dated July 16, the ministry said the Gala Concert initially slated for August 13 and 14, 2025, would take place on August 16, 2025.
The communication dispatched by the Head of the Directorate of Field Coordination and Co-curricular Activities, Nelson Sifuna, did not reveal the venue.
During last year's Gala in Eldoret, Ketebat Primary School from Teso North, Busia county, performed Akisuk, a traditional Iteso dance featuring joyful jumps.
It was their debut on the national stage, yet they scored an impressive 90 per cent in their category, earning their place at the State Concert.
With Bitok’s proposed platform, this year's top performers —many of whom had never travelled beyond their subcounty—could be invited to perform at international art festivals, conferences, or cultural diplomacy events.
Karanda Primary School from Kisumu also dazzled at the gala with a spirited Dodo dance, representing Luo culture.
They won their class with 92 per cent and advanced to the State Concert, captivating the crowd with polished choreography and youthful energy.
For these young performers, global exposure could mean cultural transmission on an unprecedented scale, showcasing Kenyan traditions abroad while gaining new skills and networks.
During the 2022 national festival in Kisumu, Joshua Mutua Mbiti from Miangoni Primary School performed a Kamba chant lamenting information technology’s social impact.
His delivery drew smiles from even the usually reserved officials, including then Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha.
A performer blending poetry, cultural heritage and social commentary could find an eager audience at international youth arts forums or cultural dialogues.
Past participants and their mentors attest to how festival success shapes ambition.
“Every time our students succeed, it feels like a personal victory… It’s a powerful reminder of the impact we can have when we believe in each other,” a representative from Bridge International Academies said during the 2024 gala.
Another teacher added: “We need to fully embrace CBC; it’s all about nurturing talents to a level where pupils can eventually earn from their skills.”
Bitok’s plan could follow models from abroad, such as Eurovision Young Musicians in Europe or South Korea’s International Junior Art Festival, where national winners are groomed through auditions, mentorship, and partnerships before performing abroad.
These platforms often lead to scholarships, cultural exchanges, and professional pathways, proving that youth arts can fuel both personal and national growth.
For the children whose voices and movements tell the stories of their communities, the proposal is more than policy—it is a promise.
A promise that the applause that begins in a crowded Kenyan hall can follow them to the world’s great stages.
“Our children are gifted. Let’s not just celebrate their talents; let’s empower them to earn from it. We must support structures that commercialise creativity without exploiting the artist,” the PS said, throwing the challenge to stakeholders to explore monetisation opportunities within the performing arts to benefit talented learners.
