Kenya’s creative economy got a boost when Hollywood and Broadway came looking for talent, hoping to work with Kenyan creatives and open up opportunities in the hugely lucrative US entertainment market.

The US-Kenya Creative Economy Conference identified gaps and investment opportunities for a sector that today contributes over five per cent of the country’s economy.

The meeting brought together musicians, filmmakers and sports entrepreneurs and was graced by the CS for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy and Sports, Salim Mvurya and his PS, Firikini Jacobs.

The meeting followed President Ruto’s previous visit to the US, organised by then Ambassador to Kenya, Megan Whitman, where the President met CEOs of companies within the Silicon Valley with a charm offensive to set up shop in Kenya.

One of those included the Invention Studios CEO Nicholas Weinstock who revealed his company has narrowed down to five film projects with production expected to come up soon.

“We have settled down on five scripts after going through over 400 applications, and we are happy with the progress,” said Weinstock, who revealed that the five projects will be shot in Kenya.

One of the scripts is thriller themed on a girl born deaf but has to fight off the family curse from an impending catastrophe.

Weinstock said the opportunity to work with Kenyan creatives is a huge milestone in selling Kenya as a filming destination.

“Just one big hit with international standards quality and the doors will open up wide with every production coming here to do a film project, he said.

The event was also graced by the Recording Academy President, those responsible for organising the Grammys and as he delivered his closing ceremony speech, he hailed the conference for enabling his studios to explore with Kenyan musicians.

“Ours is to work with musicians in Kenya and grow our membership from here. The rest will follow,” he responded to a question about whether Kenya paid Ksh500 million to host the Grammys.

Kenyan NBA Country Lead Michael Finley noted that Kenya has some of the best basketball talent, particularly hailing many women basketballers currently trailblazing the NBA circuit.

He was emphatic, however, that Kenya needs an NBA-standard arena that can host the Africa Basketball League.

“The Kasarani arena is big and has great capacity, but it is not to the NBA standards, and that means Kenya is not able to host the Africa Basketball League anytime soon,” he said.