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November 13, 2019
County banks on culture for cohesion, employment
Plans are underway to establish the Nakuru Cultural Week, an effort aimed at improving the County’s arts, cultural and creative industries.
The cultural week will be a platform to showcase and identify talent from across the County.
County minister for Youth, Gender, Culture, Sports and Social Services Eng. Lucy Kariuki added that cultural diversity will also enrich cohesion among different communities.
The Minister was speaking when she represented Governor Lee Kinyanjui during the official opening of a two-day Nakuru Music and Cultural Festival at Shabaab Social Hall.
The festival brings together over 30 cultural groups drawn from women groups, universities, and colleges, parastatals, and individuals.
Winners will have an opportunity to represent Nakuru County in upcoming regional and national festivals.
The National festival will be held from November 27 to December 3, 2019, at Bondo University in Siaya County.
“We want cultural activities to translate into money. It’s a source of employment,” the Minister said citing that the County is investing heavily in culture.
Engineer Kariuki reiterated Governor Kinyanjui’s sentiments that all government departments should source for entertainers within Nakuru County during events.
The Director for Culture and Gender, Ms. Alice Gekonde said the newly renovated Shabaab Social Hall has brought life to the sleepy neighborhood.
She said the County Government of Nakuru will renovate and build modern social halls where locals can hold meetings and performances at no fee.
Today’s performance was characterized by high-voltage performances in cultural pieces as well as Lingala.
County Tourism Association chairman Mr. David Mwangi said performances were of world-class status.
Mr. Mwangi asked hotel managers to camp at the festival and pick bands and individuals to be performing for guests in their various establishments.
The festival’s executive secretary Mr. Evans Keya said the County had engaged top-notch adjudicators, mostly who have judged national festivals.
He said this would ensure Nakuru County presents the best at the Nationals for competitiveness.
He added that all groups that took part, and others, will undergo regular training from the best in the industry.