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Kenya's Pioneering Steps Towards a Thriving Creative Economy
In a significant stride towards fostering the growth of Kenya's cultural and creative industries, the Kenya National Commission for UNESCO convened a workshop to launch a policy brief entitled "Towards the Promotion of Inclusive, Dynamic Culture and Creative Industries in Kenya." This undertaking follows a series of extensive consultative meetings with a diverse array of stakeholders, including the UNESCO Regional Office鈥檚 culture sector, central and county government officials, civil society, the private sector, and creative practitioners.
The convening underscores the importance of culture in sustainable development, as enshrined in Article 11 of the Kenyan Constitution, which recognizes culture as 鈥溾he foundation of the nation and as the cumulative civilization of the Kenyan people and nation鈥. It also affirms the rising prominence of the creative economy, which is emerging as one of the fastest-growing sectors in the Kenyan economy, serving not only as a source of employment but also as a catalyst for national innovation and cohesion.
Kenya's creative economy is not only a source of jobs, but a beacon of innovation and unity. Let's craft policies that shape a brighter canvas for our nation's culture and creative industries.
In the context of a rapidly expanding digital landscape that fosters the creation and accessibility of creative goods and services, Kenya is committed to establishing a solid and resilient policy and legislative framework to facilitate the sector's prosperity. The workshop, which was attended by over thirty individuals, encompassing stakeholders representing county governments from Kisumu, Nairobi, Mombasa, and Nakuru, as well as central government officials, civil society, creative industry experts, and practitioners, deliberated on vital priority areas that would be proposed to the national government for adoption.
Drawing inspiration from the declaration of the Ministers of Culture World Conference 鈥 Mondiacult 鈥 which affirms culture as a "global public good" and reflects a unanimous global commitment to enhancing public policies in this sector, the participants engaged in discussions centered on the main challenges and opportunities for creating an enabling environment for its growth. This included the imperative for a cohesive policy and legislative framework, robust physical, digital, and financial infrastructure, capacity-building initiatives, training and skills development, and measures to facilitate sustained development.
Sixteen key recommendations were put forward during the forum, aimed at mitigating these challenges. These encompassed the necessity for the government to institute coherent policies and ensure their strategic implementation. Additionally, the recommendations called for the establishment of partnerships, strategies for the cultural and creative sector at both national and county government levels, sustainable production of cultural statistics, the promotion of cultural goods and services for export, and the integration of Arts Education across all levels of learning.
KNATCOM firmly believes that sound cultural policies will enhance the creation of opportunities for decent work, poverty reduction, social resilience, gender equality inclusive education, and well as contribute to solutions to climate change and environmental challenges.
Following extensive deliberations and further recommendations, the next phase of this endeavor entails seeking alignment with the newly formed Ministry of Gender, Culture, the Arts, and Heritage. This alignment will be crucial to addressing the sector's key challenges and implementing policy actions and recommendations intended to unlock its vast potential, under the guidance and approval of the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry in charge of Culture.
