By Andrew Mbuva.
President William Ruto has announced plans to establish a Kenya National Talent Search to identify and nurture young talent across the country, as he called on the youth to take an active role in shaping Kenya’s future beyond Vision 2030.
Speaking during the State Concert of the 98th Kenya Music Festival at Bungoma State Lodge, President Ruto said Kenya had abundant talent but faced the challenge of identifying, developing and turning it into sustainable livelihoods.
The President said the planned talent search would cover music, comedy, acting, poetry, film, dance, sport, innovation and other creative fields.
“Kenya does not lack talent. Our challenge is to discover and develop it,” Ruto said.
He directed the State Department for Youth, working with his Creative Economy Office and the Sports Fund, to roll out the programme without further delay. The Deputy President will coordinate and ensure the programme receives full government support.
Ruto proposed that the inaugural theme of the National Talent Search be “Kenya Beyond 2030”, linking the initiative to the ongoing national conversation on the country’s long-term future.
He further directed that, beginning next year, school creative events should adopt the same theme and give young people an opportunity to use music, drama and other forms of creativity to imagine the Kenya they want to build.
The President said he expected to personally recognise winners of the National Talent Search during the next Kalasha International Film and TV Awards.
Ruto said the creative economy must occupy a central position in Kenya’s development plans, arguing that music and other creative industries are no longer merely forms of entertainment but significant sources of employment, intellectual property and export income.
He noted that technological advances had transformed the music industry, allowing a song recorded in Bungoma to reach audiences in Nairobi, Lagos, London and São Paulo within seconds.
According to the President, the global recorded music industry generated nearly US$32 billion in the previous year, with almost 70 per cent of the revenue coming from streaming. He said recorded music revenue in sub-Saharan Africa had also grown by more than 15 per cent to about US$120 million.
“These figures carry a clear message: music is not only culture and entertainment. It is also commerce, intellectual property, employment, and export income,” he said.
The President said the Government was working to ensure Kenyan artistes were fairly compensated for their work.
He highlighted the introduction of a system for collecting music royalties through the e-Citizen platform, saying 70 per cent of the royalties collected had been protected for distribution to artistes and other copyright owners.
Ruto also urged Parliament to fast-track the Copyright Bill and the Creative Economy Bill, saying the legislation would strengthen protection for creatives and accelerate formalisation of the creative economy.
The President also highlighted the role of technology in expanding opportunities for young creatives.
He said this year’s Kenya Music Festival had been streamed through SomaPlay, a Ministry of Education platform designed to bring education and entertainment together.
The Government plans to expand the platform to include drama, sport, educational content and safe entertainment for children while creating additional opportunities for Kenyan creatives to earn income.
Ruto said the Government had also worked with Meta to open Facebook monetisation to Kenyan creators, describing SomaPlay as another avenue through which young people could reach wider audiences and generate income.
The President also challenged young Kenyans to participate directly in the national conversation on Kenya’s future, saying decisions about the country beyond Vision 2030 should not be left to politicians, experts and older generations.
He cited the example of seven-year-old Adrian Gweth Ombuni, whose speech during the launch of the National Conversation on Kenya Beyond Vision 2030 called for a Kenya with good schools, reliable hospitals, clean water, jobs and a safe and happy environment.
Ruto said the future being discussed would directly affect today’s children as they grow into adulthood.
“The conversation about Kenya’s future cannot be held by adults on behalf of the young. It must be held with them and by them,” he said.
He urged young people to articulate the kind of education and opportunities they need, how technology should serve them and how the country can identify, protect and reward talent.
He also challenged them to go beyond asking what Kenya would do for their generation and instead explain what they were prepared to do for the country.
Science and innovation winners to be honoured at State House
In another directive, President Ruto announced that winners of the annual Kenya Science and Engineering Fair would, from next year, be hosted at State House.
He noted that although schools had participated in the annual science and innovation competition since 1962, its winners had never been formally presented at State House.
The President directed the Ministry of Education to bring the winners to State House, saying he wanted to see their innovations, hear their ideas and demonstrate that the country valued their contribution.
Ruto said Kenya’s cultural diversity, as demonstrated by thousands of performers who travelled to Bungoma for the festival, could be a powerful tool for national unity.
He said music and culture reminded Kenyans of their shared identity while giving the country confidence to engage with the world without losing its sense of belonging.
The President concluded by urging the young people who participated in the festival to use their voices and talents not only on stage but also in shaping the future of the country.
