Murkomen backs creatives as govt moves to unlock funding for artistes
By Sharon Atieno, July 2, 2026Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting Kenya’s creative industry, saying fresh plans are underway to help artistes access financing and earn more from their talents.
In a statement shared on his X account on Thursday, July 2, 2026, Murkomen said the creative economy remains a critical pillar of Kenya’s economy, contributing significantly to innovation, job creation and cultural expression.
According to the CS, the government is increasingly recognising the role of music and arts beyond entertainment, positioning the sector as an important tool for driving social transformation and strengthening communities.
“The creative economy is a significant contributor to our national economy and an important driver of innovation, employment and cultural expression,” Murkomen said.
Anti-drug campaign and funding plans
Murkomen noted that his ministry is already working closely with artistes as part of wider government efforts to fight drug and substance abuse, especially among young people, while also promoting peaceful coexistence among communities.
“Music and art in general are powerful tools for driving social change in society. Our Ministry is collaborating with creatives in our fight against drug and substance abuse and fostering cohesion among different communities,” he said.
The CS revealed that he held a meeting with musicians from the South Rift region led by Makiche arap Rotich, where discussions focused on the government’s plan to fulfil commitments previously made to artistes from the region.
Murkomen said the musicians had also briefed him on their plans to organise themselves into a Community Based Organisation (CBO), a move expected to help them access financing opportunities and improve earnings from their artistic work.
“I updated the group on the government’s plan to honor commitments made to the artistes from the region. The team also apprised me of plans to organize themselves into a CBO to access financing and enjoy greater earnings from their talents,” he stated.
The delegation included veteran musician Paul Lang’at Subembe and Mboyo Keticha, as the government signals growing focus on strengthening Kenya’s creative economy as part of its broader economic empowerment agenda.
Murkomen’s remarks come months after he intensified the government’s anti-drug campaign, calling for a collective national effort to tackle rising cases of drug and substance abuse, particularly in schools.
Speaking in May while commissioning classrooms at Sergoit Primary School, the CS urged parents, school administrators and security agencies to work together to keep learning institutions free from drugs.
“I call on parents to play a lead role in monitoring the academic progress of their children. I also direct administrators to work closely with schools to ensure schools are free from drugs and alcohol,” Murkomen said, as the government continues linking creatives to its wider campaign on youth empowerment and social change.