Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has hailed the integration of music, arts and creative disciplines into Kenya’s Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), saying the move is helping recognise talent as an important pathway for learners.
Kindiki said the country had made significant progress by moving beyond treating music and the arts as extracurricular activities and incorporating them into the formal school curriculum.
Speaking during the Kenya National Music Festival State Concert, Kindiki said the approach would give learners an opportunity to develop their talents while preparing for careers in the creative sector.
“It is gratifying to see students and pupils not only participating in music as an extracurricular activity, but also studying music for purposes of career and occupation into the future,” Kindiki said.
The Deputy President said the development reflected a broader recognition that learners possess different abilities and should be given opportunities to pursue areas where they demonstrate talent and potential.
He said talent in music, arts and creative disciplines should be accorded the same recognition as academic abilities in subjects such as mathematics, sciences and humanities.
“Therefore, what this means, Your Excellency, is that we are recognizing that talent in music, the arts, and the creative is as good as talent in mathematics, the sciences, the humanities, and all the other fields that are available within the spectrum of knowledge,” he said.
Kindiki made the remarks as the government continues to implement the CBC, which places emphasis on developing learners’ competencies, talents and practical skills alongside academic knowledge.
He said the integration of creative disciplines into the curriculum could help address a long-standing challenge where talented learners were not always able to pursue their abilities as viable career paths.
The Deputy President also reflected on the experiences of previous generations, recalling talented classmates and schoolmates whose abilities were not adequately nurtured.
“I remember with sadness, and I know the adults in the room here will agree with me, the many talented classmates and schoolmates,” Kindiki said.
His remarks came during the 2026 Kenya National Music Festival, which brought together learners from across the country to showcase their abilities in music and performing arts.
The festival has provided a platform for schools to identify and nurture musical talent while promoting cultural expression and creativity among young Kenyans.
The government has increasingly highlighted the creative economy as an area with potential to create jobs and provide alternative career opportunities for young people.
Kindiki said the continued implementation of the CBC would ensure learners are given a broader range of opportunities to develop their abilities and prepare for future careers.
The integration of music and creative arts into the curriculum is therefore expected to strengthen talent development and provide learners with structured pathways into Kenya’s growing creative sector.