The President said Kenya is lucky to be enjoying a wide and rich cultural diversity that should be tapped to create more employment opportunities.
He said his administration will give a new impetus to creative arts as part of efforts to transforming the sector.
Speaking during this year’s National Drama and Film Festivals, at State House, Nairobi, on Friday, President Ruto said creative arts was a serious business that should be given the attention it deserved.
“I want to assure Kenyans that we take creative arts as a serious business. We will give a new impetus to creative arts to create more opportunities for both our men and women, ” said President Ruto.
The Head of State urged the private sector to play a greater role in the promotion of talents among the youth.
“We ask the private sector to work with us in growing the arts sector by deploying resources they have to promote talents among the youth,” said President Ruto.
He said the Permanent Presidential Music Commission should be renamed Permanent Creative Economic Commission to give those with talents the opportunity to their possibilities.
The Head of State said he was impressed by performances of Riara Springs School, Nairobi with Cultural Dance ‘ The Eyes Have It’- where society has placed a profound significance on appearance, aesthetics and pigmentation.
Others who moved the crowd included Santa Maria Girls Secondary School, Rift Valley with cultural dance ‘ Jeruto’- the story of how adherence to positive cultural norms can be used as solution to rampant insecurity promoted by banditry in Kerio Valley.
Matuga Girls High School, Coast, with cultural dance ‘Musokoto’- about drug and substance abuse in schools, emphasised on the need for collective responsibility particularly teachers and parents in fighting the menace.
President Ruto said such performances should be played during the National Days, saying they were educative.
He, however, assured students of Santa Maria, who hail from the banditry prone area that firm security measures have been put in place to restore law and order along the Kerio Valley.
“I want to assure the girls and Kenyans in general that we have mobilised police and the Kenya Army in North Rift to ensure peace was restored and ensure uninterrupted learning activities.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said it was through creative arts that issues such HIV/AIDS and cattle rustling could be confronted.
“We must embrace creative arts as part of efforts to confront the challenges facing our society,” said Mr Gachagua.
Cabinet Secretaries Ezekiel Machogu (Education) and Ababu Namwamba (Sports) said emphasis was being given to the development of creative arts as part of efforts to exploit talents among the youth.
Chairman of Kenya National Drama and Film Festivals Prof Christopher Odhiambo said efforts were being made to to promote creative arts to meet the international standards.
“We are promoting creative arts in line with the Government’s agenda,” said Mr Odhiambo.
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