Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's move to give Ivy Chelimo, the young lady who nicknamed him Riggy G, a job, encouraged our young, vibrant and artistic Kenyan creatives.
Kenya has a vibrant creative sector with a long and distinctive history.
Well, should we also wait for the DP, to invite the young lad from Kisii University? KK Mwenyewe, and offer him a job for mimicking him? Will he be able to provide jobs to all creatives in his office?
Creative industries are the cycles of assembling, producing and distributing goods and services that use ideas and intellectual capital as the primary inputs.
The global digital revolution has opened avenues and doors for the creative sector to express itself through wide-ranging platforms.
Popular culture has spread throughout all domains of life and creative experimentation is being accepted as a way of life.
There is no doubt that only nations that pay attention to creativity, experimentation and innovation will deal effectively with the challenges of the contemporary world.
This includes climate change, economic inequalities, and sustainable social transformation.
It is for this reason that we must understand, nurture and celebrate the creative industries, those institutions and products that depend on knowledge and innovation to express and interrogate the human condition.
Globally, creative industries have become a strategic choice for stimulating social and economic growth, youth employment and integration of communities through cross-cultural learning and sharing.
Sadly, as our Kenyan creative economy continues to rock the global village, many Kenyans are still unaware of its value and how to exploit and tap into it.
The DP together with other government officials needs to sit down with creatives in Kenya, hear and pay attention to what is ailing the industry, and formulate policies, to help the industry grow.
While launching their manifesto in July, the Kenya Kwanza administration did promise to work with stakeholders in the creative industry, to expand the space.
“I will work with stakeholders to identify the incentives, capacity building, and other support required from the state to scale up cultural production and the creative economy. I will also mainstream the creative economy in Brand Kenya and commercial diplomacy, including appointing accomplished Kenyan artists and creative sector personalities as cultural ambassadors,” they said.
During their first 100 days in office, the administration also promised to ascent the creative economy bill into law.
This, according to the administration, would facilitate access to modern equipment and film production infrastructure that will be available for filmmakers.
The Kenya Kwanza government should now walk the talk and implement its manifesto that touched on the creative industry. Creative industries face several challenges.
For instance, lack of capital especially among the main innovators, the youth.
Access to start-up funds is difficult due to high poverty levels among youth and their inability to access loans in an uncertain market.
These industries are viewed as high-risk.
For example, artists in the music industry have constantly lamented on low payout on royalties.
This should be a concern for the national government and know how the artists can benefit better.
Creatives in the film industry have lamented the high taxation of film equipment at the port of Mombasa.
There's an urgent need to provide practical education to youth in all areas related to the industry. Without proper education, initiatives will start and fail within a few months of inception. Young entrepreneurs will be demoralised.
Students at Rongo and Kisii University
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
