President William Ruto has directed that drama and film festivals be fully funded under the Ministry of Education, positioning them as part of the country’s formal learning pathways.

The directive was issued during the State Concert for the 64th Kenya National Drama and Film Festival held at State House, Nairobi, on April 17, 2026. The event marked the conclusion of the 12-day festival staged in Nyeri County.

Elevating creative arts in education

Ruto said drama and film festivals are essential to the development of learners and should be supported as structured components of education.

“As a government, we have recognised that drama and film festivals are not mere co-curricular activities. They are integral to holistic development, equipping Kenya’s youth with the skills, creativity, and confidence,” he said.

He added: “It’s a learning pathway that deserves full financial support from the government through the Education Ministry.”

The president noted that creative arts, including drama, music and film, play a role in building skills and talent among young people.

Policy and legislative support

The funding directive is linked to ongoing policy efforts, including the Creative Economy Bill 2026 currently before Parliament. The proposed law seeks to support the creative sector through financing structures and institutional frameworks.

The Bill outlines measures to expand access to funding, support production and strengthen the creative industry.

Ruto said government support will contribute to growth of the sector and enable wider participation in creative activities within the education system.

Guidelines and student protection

The move comes alongside measures to regulate content and participation in school festivals. The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU-K) has supported revised guidelines for the 2026 Kenya National Drama and Film Festival.

In a statement, the union said the guidelines are intended to protect learners from misuse and ensure that school activities remain focused on education.

“We have taken note that a majority of our members have raised issues around the use and misuse of their children by some political actors who seek to achieve political scores through these innocent children,” the statement read.

COTU said creative arts remain important for talent development but raised concerns over the use of performances to advance political messaging.