NGPU
February 22, 2023
Synergy to package and market Nakuru as a Creative Hub
Written by Jeremy Ogolla
The County through the department of Trade, Tourism and Culture seeks to create a synergy with stakeholders in the creative industry in the County to help package and market Nakuru as a creative industry hub.
Creative industries are those based on individual creativity, skill and talent, or which have the potential to create wealth and jobs through the development or production of intellectual property.
Tourism and Culture Chief Officer Ms Rosemary Wambui said the creative industry is an enabler in the development agenda in Nakuru County.
“There is a need to promote policies that support the entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation growth of micro and SMEs,” said Ms Wambui.
The CO noted that the County administration under H.E. Governor Susan Kihika is ready to work with stakeholders to help identify incentives, capacity building and other support required to scale up cultural production and creative economy.
‘’The County administration is committed to working with stakeholders to expand the space for creativity including in the arena of freedom of expression and protection of intellectual property rights,’’ said the CO.
In Nakuru, creative industries work through a working group which is a representation of registered creative organizations and establishments.
The groups include Creative Economy Structure, Nakuru Cultural & Creative Industries, Nakuru Players Theatre, Njoki Karuoya Creative Media Centre, Sane Wadu Trust and Great Rift Gospel Music Awards.
Through their presentation, the creative industry members said Nakuru County has highly talented youths on a diverse spectrum of creative work including music, theatre, graphic design, digital animation, fashions, and crafts among others.
Additionally, they lauded the county administration for its willingness to embrace the creative industry to add value to Nakuru’s export such as fashion, leather products and craft industries.
Sports County Executive Committee Member (CECM) Ms Josephine Achieng said creative industries are at play in driving innovations in sectors of the economy including, sports, health, agriculture, financial services and tourism.
In Kenya, the creative, and cultural industries are estimated at Kshs 41.7 billion representing 0.83% of the country’s GDP which currently stands at Kshs. 5 trillion, according to a 2020 survey by Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).
Nakuru County is among the leading counties contributing more than 2 billion.
Other counties that immensely contribute to the GDP through the creative industry include Nairobi City which leads at 9 billion shillings followed by Mombasa at 6.2 billion. Kisumu and Machakos contribute 4.1 billion and 3.6 billion shillings respectively.
The Constitution of Kenya underscores the role of culture in national development by protecting artistic expression constitutionally. Subsequently, the creative economy has become an essential element in national considerations.
Present during the meeting was Sports and Vocational training Chief Officer madam Stella Mbarire.
