Top performers from Kenya Music Festival head to Uganda for show

Winners of this year’s Kenya Music Festival yesterday showcased their talent to the nation, as the spectacle shifts to Kampala, Uganda.

President William Ruto yesterday hosted the performers who starred at the national show in Meru at the Sagana State Lodge in Nyeri, where he promised to transform the arts and digital economy into pillars of national prosperity and global recognition.

The festival showcased talent from across the country, with performances by schools and institutions including Senende Boys (Vihiga), Alliance High (Kiambu), Kiranda Girls (Migori) and Kenyatta University (Nairobi). The President was particularly moved by John Momanyi, a violinist from Nkoroi Secondary School in Kajiado, who delivered a solo act.

Ruto said school music and drama festival performances are now available online via e-Citizen for less than Sh250, ending the outdated DVD system that charged students and parents Sh1,000 

“This is the first step towards building Kenya’s own ‘Netflix’ for local productions,” he said.

The Head of State noted that the country is already among the few whose creators earn directly from Facebook, a win he attributed to government lobbying. To accelerate growth, he announced that his administration is negotiating with Meta to integrate M-Pesa into Facebook’s payment system for faster payouts.

“When I travel to the United States for the UN General Assembly next month, I will engage Google to allow Kenyans to buy adverts via M-Pesa. This will benefit creatives, MSMEs and increase platform revenues. It is a win-win for all,” he added.

He added that the Kenya Copyright Board should ensure artistes receive 70 per cent and launch digital royalties on e-Citizen this year.

“The Blank Tape Levy has already raised Sh100 million, with the bulk going to support musicians and performers to expand venues,” he said.

Interior CS Kithure Kindiki, who accompanied the President, said the arts remain crucial in shaping Kenya’s values. “Music helps us fight corruption, laziness, violence and crime,” he said.

The winners of the 97th edition, together with best performers at last term’s Drama and Theatre Festival, will represent the country at the East African Music Dance and Drama Festival. The event starts today to August 25.