NGPU November 22, 2023

Nakuru County Roadmap to Cultural and Creative Policy is Gathering Momentum

Written by Jeremy Ogolla and Mary Mwangi

The journey to achieve Nakuru Culture and heritage policy is unstoppable. This comes after the Nakuru County Government through the Directorate of Tourism and Culture convened a pivotal policy meeting with various stakeholders from the National Government and the private sector.

County Tourism and Culture Chief Officer, Rosemary Kimani, said the meeting aims among others to review existing cultural and heritage policies to position Nakuru as a recognized creative city.

“So far we are also drawing insights from sources like the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Creative Cities Network and Kenya National Commission for UNESCO (KNATCOM) framework,” said Rosemary.

The CO added that the directorate of Culture intends to carry out a baseline survey exercise on the creative industry and cultural expressions through literature literature review the literature of the lessons learned in Makueni County.

“Latter an inventory culture heritage workshop will be done to deseminate findings of the draft policy that aims to amplify the voices of the creative industry in the role of of the community and integrate the findings in the role of the stakeholders committee” added Kimani.

Midrftharinet presentation was on how culture affects gender to be included in the consultancy baseline survey, rites of passage and traditional medicine research to be included as a phenomenon affecting Kuresoi North South and some parts of Gilgil elementaita where the voice of the affected is amplified on how knowledge can be desseminatrd in the inventory workshop.

During the consultation, the committee also hinted on the need to initiate a baseline cultural elements , as well as amplifying the voice of the creative industry sector that will guide the susequent policy formulation.

The meeting also emphasized community involvement, with a baseline survey and inventory training slated for early next year.

Nakuru Culture Officer Ledicia Wanyonyi said complementing this effort by community based inventory training will also offer a practical oriented understanding of Nakuru’s Cultural heritage

” A database through registration of certificates will be captured in all the creative industry domains “, said Ledicia.

To augment this, the County has pledged a financial support towards the course, reiterating that the move is an investment in Nakuru’s Cultural richness and potential as a creative hub.

Meanwhile the comitte members lauded the move by the County Government under the leadership of Governor Susan Kihika, saying the County’s financial commitment underscores it’s dedication to nurturing Nakuru’s Cultural vibrancy and solidifying it’s position as a burgeoning creative City.

Other innatandance were stakeholders from National Library(KNL), Media Council of Kenya (MCK), Hyrax Hill Museum Technical working group, Midrift among others.