President William Ruto announced partnerships with American entertainment giants during a speech marking 60 years of Kenyan independence Tuesday, part of an effort to support local artists and draw international productions.
Speaking at Uhuru Gardens, Ruto said the famous Grammy Awards have agreed to a collaboration “starting January” to help develop Kenyan musical talent. Additionally, he said “the innovation studios of Hollywood have agreed to begin shooting multiple movies right here in Kenya.”
The president also revealed that “Meta committed to helping creators in Kenya earn money for crafting original content” on Facebook and Instagram.
“Following a pilot programme with eligible creators in the country, Meta will be expanding monetisation opportunities and allowing more creators to earn a living doing what they love,” Ruto said.
The deals are part of Ruto’s “Talanta Hela” initiative launched earlier this year to transform Kenyan sports and the creative arts into a major industry. He said the effort is already paying dividends.
“Our women’s volleyball and the men’s rugby have qualified for the Paris Olympics in 2024,” he said. “Our athletes continue to excel at various global events.”
Ruto conferred the Elder of the Order of the Golden Heart, Kenya’s highest civilian honor, upon world champion runner Faith Kipyegon during the speech.
While Ruto trumpeted the cultural agreements, he spent much of the address spotlighting his economic record since taking office three months ago. He claimed that “Kenya is safely out of the danger of debt distress and that our economy is on a stable footing.”
“The greatness and patriotic devotion of the people of Kenya have been on display during the past year,” Ruto said, arguing the country pulled together to avoid potential catastrophe.
He also announced that Kenya will become a “visa-free country” in January 2024, no longer requiring visitors to obtain the travel authorization. A new digital platform is being set up to track all foreign tourists entering the country instead.
Tuesday’s ceremony marked Jamhuri Day, held every Dec. 12 to celebrate Kenya’s independence from British colonial rule in 1963. Ruto said citizens should be proud of the country’s democratic advances but must make faster economic gains going forward.
