The creator economy could be set for radical changes if a Bill currently under review in the National Assembly is adopted in its current form.
MPs have accelerated efforts to reshape Kenya's creative landscape amid a determination to formalise the Creative Economy Support Bill (Senate Bill No. 30 of 2024), aimed at regulating the fast-growing digital and cultural sectors.
During a recent stakeholder session in Naivasha, the Departmental Committee on Sports and Culture convened a meeting with industry players in the creative economy to deliberate on the Bill.
The committee, chaired by Webuye West MP Dan Wanyama, is examining the Bill, which has already been approved by the Senate, in a bid to shape its final form before it proceeds to the next legislative stage.
Co-sponsored by Migori Senator Eddy Gicheru Oketch and nominated MP Irene Mayaka, the Bill proposes transformative reforms across creative fields, including music, film, digital content creation, fashion, gaming, photography, cultural performance and sports innovation.
One of the main goals of the Bill is to provide reliable funding and clear standards for creative professionals.
At the heart of the proposed law is the establishment of a Creative Industry Council, which will be mandated to advise the government, coordinate programmes and protect the creative rights of creators.
The council, which will be the apex body in the creative industry, will also link creatives to markets, incentives and investment opportunities and will operate under an Advisory Board staffed by representatives from both government institutions and the creative sector. The body will be supported by a full-time secretariat within the relevant ministry.
Further, the Bill proposes the introduction of a Roll of Creatives, which is essentially a national register designed to formally recognise creative practitioners as professionals.
If one is a registered creative, they will get access to government-supported incentives, protection frameworks and development programmes. Registration, however, will remain voluntary.
The Bill also calls for the creation of an online platform to centralise information on grants, training opportunities, incentives, and other resources available to creative professionals.
Stakeholders at the Naivasha session included officials from the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy, and Sports, the Attorney-General's Office, and several civil society organisations advocating for inclusive governance.
Aside from subsidies, the bill outlined a broad range of incentives, including tax breaks, a credit guarantee scheme, expanded intellectual property protections, and special accommodations for creatives, among others.
Since the bill creates a publicly funded national resource, it qualifies as a Money Bill under Article 114 of the Constitution. With this in mind, the National Assembly will inevitably be at the centre of determining nuances like how the fund will be financed and managed.
Speaking during the engagement, Wanyama was adamant that parliament was committed to fast-tracking the bill into law as he thanked stakeholders for their input.
“We need this law. It will be vital for our country and for the millions of young people whose livelihoods depend on creativity. We appreciate all the stakeholders who turned up and shared their views with utmost clarity,” he said.
