Basic Education Principal Secretary (PS) Julius Bitok has affirmed the government’s commitment to monetizing the creative talents of students showcased during drama festivals.
Speaking at the 97th edition of the Kenya Music Festival (KMF) in Meru on August 6, PS Bitok stressed the importance of elevating the festival’s reach beyond national borders and envisioning a future where Kenyan performers dominate international platforms with their unique blend of creativity and cultural heritage.
“The lifespan of the cream of our talent should outlive the few minutes of stage glory,” he stated.
“It should be immortalized in commercially tradeable formats that generate real cash and future royalties.”
Bitok Announces Plans to Commercialize Drama Festival Performances
The PS revealed plans to engage the Talent Fund and other strategic partners to develop frameworks that will enable young artists to earn from their creativity.
He added that by nurturing and commercializing talent, the festival can create income-generating opportunities for students, teachers, and schools while contributing to Kenya’s broader socio-economic development.
The PS stated that the theme, “Enhancing the Creative Economy through Artistic Expression for Sustained Development,” reflected the broader goal of driving socio-economic growth.
He reiterated the Ministry of Education’s vision to transform the festival into a sustainable economic engine by monetizing the artistic talents showcased during the event.
“We appreciate an important platform for discovering and modelling talents. We see incubation sessions for future local and global stars. We see potential income-generating opportunities and job creation avenues that will be crucial contributors to the socio-economic development we aspire for,” he added.
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Kenya Music Festival Global Recognition
Kenya Music Festival (KMF) Chair Frederick Ngala backed PS Bitok’s call for global recognition of the festival, noting its steady transformation into an event of international relevance.
He stated that the inclusion of diverse African, Western, Eastern, and Arabic cultural expressions is a unique feature that could help elevate the festival beyond national borders.
“This festival is not just about competition; it is about social learning where students, teachers, and adjudicators learn from one another. Our learners are already winners for making it to the national level,” said Prof. Ngala.
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He added that the festival serves as a platform for applying classroom knowledge under the competency-based curriculum and promotes inclusivity by integrating learners with special needs into performances.
PS Bitok also acknowledged the contribution of various partners whose support has enabled the organization of the event.
These include public and private institutions such as the Equity Bank, Sports Fund, Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), Communications Authority, Jubilee Insurance, Kenya Cultural Centre, Brookside East Africa, and Kenya Wildlife Service
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