The National Assembly has intensified efforts to strengthen Kenya’s creative sector as the Departmental Committee on Sports and Culture met stakeholders in Naivasha to review the Creative Economy Support Bill (Senate Bill No. 30 of 2024).
Momentum is building around efforts to overhaul Kenya’s creative industry after the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Sports and Culture held extensive engagements with key players on the Creative Economy Support Bill (Senate Bill No. 30 of 2024).
The Committee, chaired by Hon. Dan Wanyama (Webuye West) convened in Naivasha to scrutinize the proposed law that has been hailed as one of the most ambitious attempts yet to formalize, fund, and protect Kenya’s vibrant but historically under-supported creative economy.
The Bill, co-sponsored by Senator Eddy Gicheru Oketch and Hon. Irene Mayaka, seeks to transform how the country nurtures talent across industries such as music, film, fashion, gaming, digital content, cultural performance, photography, and sports innovation.
The Senate approved the Bill on 7 August 2025, clearing the way for the National Assembly to shape its final form.
According to the legal briefing presented by the National Assembly Secretariat’s legal team, the Bill proposes sweeping reforms aimed at elevating the creative sector from an informal, underfunded space to a coordinated, well-resourced pillar of Kenya’s economy.
At the heart of the proposal is the establishment of a Creative Industry Council, a powerful apex body mandated to: Advise the government on creative economy policy, Coordinate programmes and partnerships, Protect creative works and rights and Link creatives to incentives, funding, and markets
The Council will operate through an Advisory Board comprising representatives from both government and the creative community and a full-time secretariat domiciled at the responsible ministry.
One of the key features of the Bill is the creation of a Roll of Creatives, a national register that will recognize practitioners as professionals and grant them access to incentives, protections, and government programmes. Membership is voluntary, and applications must be processed within 14 days.
The Bill also mandates the establishment of an online platform where incentives, grants, training opportunities, and other resources will be published for easy access.
The session brought together a broad spectrum of players in the creative ecosystem, including the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, the Office of the Attorney-General, the Kenya Academy of Sports, Qhala Kenya and a coalition of civil society organisations working on inclusive governance.
The engagement opened up dialogue on how to operationalize the Bill, assess institutional readiness, and refine proposals ahead of the National Assembly’s debate. Stakeholders weighed in on issues ranging from data protection to decentralizing services to better serve creatives in all 47 counties.
The Bill outlines a robust package of incentives and support mechanisms such as:Subsidies and tax incentives, A credit guarantee scheme to unlock financing, Special opportunities for creatives living with disabilities, Strong intellectual property protections and Enhanced support for research, training, and capacity building
A key highlight is the proposed Creatives Fund, which will issue grants and financial support to practitioners and institutions. Regulations guiding the Fund’s operations must be developed within 90 days of the Act’s commencement.
Because it establishes a publicly funded national fund, the Bill qualifies as a Money Bill under Article 114 of the Constitution placing the National Assembly at the center of determining its final financial framework.
If enacted, the Creative Economy Support Bill could become a historic milestone bringing structure, standards, and sustainable financing to a sector that millions of young Kenyans depend on for income and expression.
Supporters say it would finally anchor the creative industry at the heart of Kenya’s future economic growth, unlocking opportunities in the cultural and knowledge economies.
Committee chair Hon. Dan Wanyama commended the participants for their valuable contributions, assuring them that their proposals will guide the committee’s deliberations.
"We need this law. It will be vital for our country and for the millions of young people whose livelihoods depend on creativity. We appreciate all the stakeholders who turned up and shared their views with uttermost clarity,” he said.
