Kenya’s Young Creatives Challenged to Produce Content that Tells the Nation’s Story
The ceremony celebrated not only individual achievement but also the vision of the government for a vibrant, youth-driven Creative Economy contributing to national development, cultural expression, and global recognition.
KFS has churned out award-winning graduates in events such as the Kalasha International Film Festival, Kenya National Drama and Film Festival, Riverwood Academy Awards, Kenya International Sports Film Festival, and Filamu Awards. Photo/Courtesy
By Ruth Sang
The emerging filmmakers, digital creators, and storytellers in Kenya have attained a major milestone by graduating from the Kenya Film School, confidently striding into the country’s fast-growing creative economy. The 2022 and 2023 cohorts received certificates recognizing mastery in areas such as cinematography, editing, sound direction, documentary production, script writing, and the entire film development cycle.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony held at the KFS Grounds within Kasarani Sports Center, Nairobi, Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, Salim Mvurya, lauded the graduates for their perseverance, highlighting the government’s commitment to empowering youth as central drivers of national development.
“KFS equips students with both practical and theoretical skills to come up with high-quality content that tells Kenya’s story,” CS Mvurya assured, noting that the school is a key pillar in Kenya’s creative ecosystem. Initially set up as the first government-owned film talent institution in East and Central Africa, and registered under the TVET Act of 2013, KFS has churned out award-winning graduates in events such as the Kalasha International Film Festival, Kenya National Drama and Film Festival, Riverwood Academy Awards, Kenya International Sports Film Festival, and Filamu Awards.
“Talent, if nurtured, turns into a national asset,” he added.
CS Mvurya announced plans to upgrade KFS into a world-class campus featuring studios, a theatre hall, digital editing suites, sound stages, lecture rooms, student accommodation, and innovation labs. He noted partnerships with Canon, KBC, Netflix, Zamaradi Productions, and the Kenya Film Commission in exposing students to global industry standards.
He challenged the graduating students to express the cultural and geographical diversities of Kenya-from the Indian Ocean coast, Mount Kenya, the Rift Valley to the lake region. “Your creativity will project this diversity, attract investment, and inspire change,” he underscored, emphasizing that responsible storytelling impacts national perception, economic growth, and tourism.
Principal Secretary for Youth Affairs, Fikirini Jacobs, encouraged the graduates to merge talent with discipline, professionalism, and collaboration. He reiterated the importance of mentorship and utilizing the NYOTA program as an entry point for opportunities within the creative economy. “You’re being released into an ecosystem chock-full of support and opportunity. Utilize them, let your creative juices flow, since you are the ones who will make a difference in industry and country alike.”
KFS has converted itself into a hotbed of chiselling talents by blending practical hands-on training with theoretical learning, so that graduates become industry ready. Since 2016, the school has consistently churned out seven intakes, nationally and internationally recognized. Graduating at a time when Kenya’s creative economy is rapidly growing, these young creatives enter an ecosystem hungry for local content in the leading television, streaming platforms, and international markets. The ceremony celebrated not only individual achievement but also the vision of the government for a vibrant, youth-driven Creative Economy contributing to national development, cultural expression, and global recognition.
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