The President of the Recording Academy, Panos A. Panay, is expected to visit Kenya in May, months after public outrage followed the government’s announcement that it had paid KSh500 million as part of a bid connected to the Grammy Awards.
In a statement released on April 29, the Recording Academy said Panay will travel to Nairobi from May 26 to May 29, 2026, to meet President William Ruto.
The visit is being supported by the United States Department of State through its Arts Envoy Program, which promotes cooperation between countries through arts and culture.
Visit Backed by U.S. Arts Envoy Program to Boost Cultural Diplomacy
According to the Recording Academy, the visit is part of its global efforts to support creative industries around the world. While in Kenya, Panay and President Ruto will discuss possible partnerships in the music and creative sectors.
The discussions will focus on developing talent, improving industry support systems, and helping Kenyan creatives reach international markets. These efforts are part of Kenya’s plan to position itself as a key entry point for Africa’s music industry on the global stage.
Panay is also expected to meet with government officials, artists, and music industry leaders to discuss ways to create more opportunities for creatives and to strengthen Africa’s presence in the global music industry.
The United States Embassy in Kenya is supporting the country’s continued involvement in the American Music Mentorship Program (AMMP), which is run by the Recording Academy and the U.S. Department of State.
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Kenya Selected for Second Year of U.S.–Recording Academy Music Mentorship Program
Kenya has been selected to participate in the American Music Mentorship Program for a second year. The program, launched in 2024, connects artists from different countries with experienced mentors based in the United States.
The Recording Academy said the program focuses on training professionals who work behind the scenes in the music industry. A new group of Kenyan participants is expected to join the program in the fall of 2026, which the Academy says will strengthen links with Kenya’s growing music sector.
This comes months after President William Ruto revealed that Kenya had submitted a bid linked to Grammy Awards activities and paid about KSh500 million.
Speaking at a town hall meeting on December 9, 2024, the President said the move aimed to grow the creative sector and position Kenya as a global entertainment destination.
In April, President Ruto also announced that Kenya was among four countries selected to join a Grammy-related partnership through Grammy Global Ventures. He said the partnership is meant to increase Kenya’s participation in the international creative industry.
The President has since called for more support for the arts, including adding performing arts to the education system, expanding talent development programs such as Talanta Hela, and working with Hollywood to promote Kenya’s film and creative industries globally.
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Government Confirms KSh500 Million Payment for African Grammy Award Bid
Dennis Itumbi, Head of Presidential Special Projects and Creative Economy, said his office had directed the State Department to process payment for Kenya’s bid to host the African Grammy Awards headquarters.
He said the move followed discussions during President Ruto’s visit to the United States, during which the Head of State met key figures in the creative industry, including Hollywood personalities at Tyler Perry Studios.
“One of the outcomes of those engagements is a focused effort to grow Kenya’s creative economy and establish Kenya as a hub for global entertainment events,” Itumbi said.
He added that a Grammy Awards representative who attended the December town hall meeting was expected to meet President Ruto to follow up on the matter.
President Ruto later confirmed that the KSh500 million payment had already been completed, saying the government remained committed to the plan.
“We have already paid the KSh500 million. This is not something we are planning to do; it’s already done,” the President said.
Itumbi also revealed that the government is preparing a bid to host the World Creative Economy Conference in 2027. If successful, Kenya would become the first African country to host the event.
He said hosting the conference would create new opportunities for the country’s creative sector and strengthen Kenya’s position in the global creative industry.
