The Ministry of Education has begun implementing President William Ruto's directive to improve Kenya's creative economy by integrating professional artists into the Kenya Music Festival.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

The move seeks to enhance students' artistic development by exposing them to experienced industry professionals while creating pathways for careers in the creative sector.

Speaking on Wednesday, July 1, the Education Ministry's Head of the Directorate of Field Coordination and Co-curricular Activities, Nelson Sifuna, said the ministry has begun integrating talented non-teacher artists into the festival to mentor learners.

Sifuna disclosed that the move is expected to expose students to industry professionals, helping improve the quality and relevance of their performances while nurturing talent beyond the classroom.

📌 What You Need to Know

"As you are aware, the President directed that we find ways and means of even incorporating those artists who are talented, but they are not teachers," said Sifuna during the opening of the Nairobi regional Kenya Music Festival at Buru Buru Girls.

He added, "Already, we have started the process of incorporating them so that when they come, they can interact with our students and we have no fear."

Sifuna assured participants that the competition would be conducted professionally , with top performers from the four-day Nairobi regional festival advancing to the national championships scheduled for August this year.

He noted that the festival remains one of the country's largest co-curricular programmes, featuring more than 600 competition classes involving learners from early childhood education to university level.

Sifuna described it as a critical pipeline for Kenya's talent and acknowledged the crucial role of partners such as Equity Group, the Central Bank of Kenya, and Farmer's Choice, Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development in sustaining the event.

The latest update comes about two months after President Ruto directed that drama festivals be fully funded under the Ministry of Education, positioning them as part of the country's formal learning pathways.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke