President William Ruto has announced a series of bold investment initiatives aimed at propelling Kenya's creative economy into a new era of prosperity, fostering opportunities for the nation's talented youth.

Speaking at the National Drama and Film Festival Winners' State Concert held at Sagana State Lodge in Nyeri County, President Ruto outlined a comprehensive strategy to nurture and harness the creative potential abundant among Kenyan youth.

In his address, Ruto emphasized the pivotal role of the creative sector in driving economic growth and fostering innovation.

"Our highly talented youth are capable of creative excellence in such diverse fields as music, theatre and drama, graphic design and digital animation, fashion and craft, as well as new and emerging fields like virtual and augmented reality," he remarked.

Central to the government's vision is the expansion of opportunities for Kenyan artists and filmmakers both domestically and on the global stage.

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The president pledged to facilitate the growth of galleries showcasing Kenyan art and craft, bolster local filmmaking through the establishment of a dedicated Film Fund, and introduce incentives to spur creativity across various domains.

Moreover, President Ruto underscored the importance of safeguarding intellectual property rights and leveraging the digital economy to augment incomes within the creative sector.

"We are committed to enforcing intellectual property rights and harnessing the power of the digital realm to amplify the reach and impact of our creative endeavours," he affirmed.

In a significant move towards commercializing homegrown talent, Ruto announced strategic partnerships with tech giants including Google, META/Facebook, and TikTok.

These collaborations aim to monetize content produced by talented youth in Kenya, unlocking new avenues for revenue generation and global exposure.

Furthermore, Ruto revealed plans to host prestigious global events such as the Miss Universe pageant in Kenya, signalling the country's emergence as a vibrant hub for pageantry and fashion on the world stage.

The President also highlighted the government's flagship initiative, the Talanta Hela Initiative, designed to facilitate the monetization of talents across various disciplines.

"Through Talanta Hela, we have established a framework for identifying, nurturing, and monetizing talents in a bottom-up manner," he explained, hinting at future expansions of the program to encompass a broader spectrum of creative pursuits.

Ruto also emphasized the government's commitment to forging partnerships with international institutions to elevate Kenya's creative landscape into a thriving industry capable of generating millions of employment opportunities and fostering sustainable livelihoods for the nation's youth.