Explainer: Why Govt seeks to professionalise the creative sector
By Joel Masibo, December 10, 2025Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, Salim Mvurya, has revealed that there is a proposal in the National Assembly seeking to professionalise the creative sector in a bid to create job opportunities for the younger generation.
The CS has also challenged newly certified filmmakers to use their skills to positively shape the nation’s future as they enter one of the world’s most competitive creative industries.
Uplifting communities
Speaking at Kasarani, Nairobi, during the graduation ceremony for 94 Kenya Film School (KFS) students from the Classes of 2022 and 2023 on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, Mvurya said the milestone marked a personal achievement for the graduates, as well as an important moment for Kenya’s rapidly growing creative sector.
He emphasised that the country is looking to its young creatives to produce content that uplifts communities, builds national pride, and positions Kenya as a leading cultural hub both regionally and internationally.
“As they step into a dynamic and highly competitive industry, I challenged them to deploy their talent positively towards nation-building, value creation and attracting investment that uplifts communities, strengthens our cultural identity, and portrays Kenya positively on the regional and global stage,” Mvurya asserted.
Push for policy reforms
Salim Mvurya also reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening the creative economy through policy reforms that address long-standing gaps in the industry. He noted that the Creative Economy Bill, currently before the National Assembly, will play a transformative role once passed.
The Bill seeks to: Define and professionalise the creative sector, clarify institutional roles to prevent overlap and confusion, unlock structured financing channels for creatives, enhance intellectual property protection and create an enabling environment for sustainable creative work.
”The Government remains steadfast in advancing the Creative Economy Bill, which is currently before the National Assembly. Once enacted, the Bill will define and professionalise the creative sector, clarify institutional roles, unlock structured financing mechanisms, strengthen intellectual property protection, and create an enabling environment where filmmakers and other creatives can thrive sustainably as contributors to economic growth and national development.” Mvurya added.
According to Mvurya, these reforms will empower filmmakers, musicians, designers, digital creators and other cultural workers to thrive more sustainably, ultimately turning creativity into a significant driver of economic growth and national development.