As youth unemployment continues to strain livelihoods across Kenya, the creative economy is set to move from the sidelines into the mainstream under a new government plan aimed at protecting and rewarding young talent.
The National Government is developing a framework to regulate the sector through the Creative Economy Bill, 2025, a move designed to help young creatives earn stable incomes from their skills and ideas.
The Principal Secretary in the State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy, Fikirini Jacobs, said the policy work is ongoing and will result in clear rules to guide the fast-growing creative space.
He said the proposed law will help unlock income opportunities for young people, especially those earning through digital platforms.
Speaking in the Kinondo area of Kwale County, Jacobs said the creative space has expanded quickly, mainly online, but many young people are still left out due to the absence of proper rules and protection.
“The creative economy has grown rapidly, especially online, but many young people are not benefiting fully due to a lack of regulation. This Bill will ensure content creators, artists, and performers are protected and able to earn fairly from their work.”
He noted that creative work has become an important source of jobs for the youth, saying the government is committed to backing talent, innovation, and digital business ideas that can support livelihoods.
“Our goal is to create an enabling environment where creativity is recognized as a legitimate source of income and employment for the youth,” he added.
Jacobs further said the initiative is meant to empower young people by opening doors to creative and business opportunities while building values such as discipline, confidence, and self-reliance.
“We aim to ensure that young people can earn a living from their talents while contributing positively to society,” he said.
According to the proposed law, a Creative Industry Council will be set up to guide government decisions, bring together programs in the sector, and safeguard the rights of creatives. The council will also act as a bridge between creators and government-backed markets, incentives, and investment chances.
The Bill also proposes the creation of a Roll of Creatives, a national list that will formally recognise creative practitioners as professionals.
Registered creatives will gain access to government-supported incentives, protection systems, and growth programmes, although joining the register will be voluntary.
The Kenya Kwanza administration has pledged to work closely with stakeholders to widen the space for creativity, including safeguarding freedom of expression and intellectual property rights.
Earlier, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said the government is fully committed to empowering young people, noting that youth will be supported to earn a living from their talents.
"Therefore, going forward, no amount of resistance, no amount of court orders, and no amount of frustration will stop the government from empowering the youth of Kenya who are talented in music and performance art, and you're going to see a lot of progress this year. (2025)" Kindiki remarked.
The Senate approved the Creative Economy Bill on 7 August 2025, paving the way for further review and refinement. The Bill is currently before the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Sports and Culture, which will shape its final form.
