Kenya National Music Policy Launched

The much awaited Kenya National Music Policy has officially been unveiled. The policy which is poised to streamline the music industry in Kenya, comes at a time when music stakeholders have been calling for an official document to guide the multi-million industry and prepare it for the next phase of growth. The official publication of the National Music Policy is a result of the work culmination of the work of a taskforce that was formed by the government in 2007 to engage the public on what they feel needs to be done in order to improve the industry.

The taskforce that comprised of stakeholders from the music industry as well as government officials comprised both government officials held public forums where views from citizens were sought. The draft then underwent rigorous scrutiny from a 10 member committee appointed by the Cabinet Secretary Sports and the Arts before presenting it to him.

Speaking during the launch of the policy at a Nairobi Hotel, Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Sports, Culture and The Arts Dr. Hassan Wario said that the music industry in Kenya has for the last 50 years experienced tremendous growth and it was a high time the industry got the support that it requires.

“Despite the vibrant creativity and resilience among our Kenyan artists, the Kenyan music industry has continued to lag behind because of lack of a clear roadmap on where we want this industry to go. The lack of a proper working mechanism has made it hard for our musicians to fully reap the benefits of their hard work as well as limiting their scope in distribution of their works,” Dr. Wario said.

It has to be noted that the linguistic diversity of the Kenyan music industry has fragmented the market and made it more difficult for artists to develop unique and recognizable sounds that can serve as currency for access to mainstream global markets. This has been compounded by the diversity of Kenya’s musical scene, presenting a key challenge to developing a sustainable industry.

The Cabinet Secretary underscored the fact that time has come for Kenya to put in place a national strategy that will protect and preserve Kenyan creativity, in order to create the conditions for music industries to flourish and raise revenues. He noted that this policy will go a long way in achieving this goal.

The economic value of music to the country is beginning to be better understood and promoted. Through music, Kenyan youths have been able to get engaged in gainful employment as well uniting all Kenyans for one course. With more than forty two different languages, music has proved to be the only avenue of celebrating the diverse Kenyan culture as well as uniting the various industry stakeholders.

Stakeholders led by Performers Rights Society of Kenya (PRISK) have also lauded the move by the government terming it as a step forward towards curbing the many hiccups that have bedeviled the industry. The umbrella body reckons that this is a new beginning for all music industry players who will now have confidence when making forays into the industry.