The Kenya Kwanza government promised to benchmark on competing film destination for international film makers in Africa and offer comparable or better incentives as part of its broader commitment to tap into Kenya’s film industry.

• In 2023, the government of Kenya signed a deal with Hollywood’s Invention Studios to promote Kenya’s film industry, promising a raft of incentives for Invention Studios (including visa waivers, relaxed entry of filming equipment and ease of access to filming locations). The deal still remains in place and had, as at June 2025, is reported to have resulted in the development of five films.
• Nonetheless, the government is yet to formalize its commitment to offer incentives for international filmmakers by enacting laws or regulations to this effect.

The Kenya Kwanza government promised to work with stakeholders to expand the space for creativity including in the arena of freedom of expression and protection of intellectual property rights

• The government is in the process of enacting the Creative Economy Support Bill, 2024 in a bid to regulate the creative economy and provide support to creatives.
• However, the government has perpetrated abuses against the freedom of expression especially in the wake of protests following the proposal and/or passing of the Finance Bill, 2024.

The Kenya Kwanza government promised to mainstream arts and culture infrastructure (theatres, music halls, art galleries) into the infrastructure development programme, and identified dedicated streams of resources for their development.

• The 2025 Budget Policy Statement outlines supporting creative initiatives. Additionally, the government has initiated the Creative Economy Support Bill, 2024, aiming to establish a comprehensive legal and institutional framework to support artists and creative professionals as well as a creatives fund. Strategic partnerships, including the inaugural U.S.-Kenya Creative Economy Forum held in June 2025, have further bolstered efforts to support the creative sector.
• The government is also undertaking the renovation of the Bomas of Kenya, Tempo Arts Park in Lucky Summer and also recently signed a deal for the construction of an ultra modern arena in Nairobi.
• However, challenges persist in that there have been allegations of irregular procurement and there is little evidence of mainstreaming arts and culture infrastructure and in the implementation of these initiatives. There is limited public evidence confirming the establishment and operationalization of dedicated infrastructure funds. These gaps highlight the need for concrete actions and transparent planning to ensure the successful realization of these commitments.

The Kenya Kwanza government promised to benchmark on competing film destination for international filmmakers in Africa and offer comparable or better incentives.

• There is no public record showing implementation of the promise yet, despite budget allocation to film development services.

The Kenya Kwanza government promised to promote arts and crafts galleries, leveraging existing public entities and institutions, including our embassies abroad.

• As of May 2026, no records of government projects or funding of art and craft galleries are publicly available yet.

The Kenya Kwanza government promised to mainstream arts and culture infrastructure (theatres, music halls, art galleries) into the infrastructure development programme, and identified dedicated streams of resources for their development.

• Pledges to finalize policies and increase funding in support of mainstream arts and culture infrastructure have been made, but there are no records yet on creation of dedicated streams of resources.
• Pledges from the President of more investment in the Creative Sector. 

The Kenya Kwanza government promised to work with stakeholders to expand the space for creativity, including freedom of expression and protection of intellectual property rights.

• A directive has been issued  to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies to advertise on digital platforms to grow the digital economy. 
• While public commitments have been made to support the creative space, no specific projects have been launched or funded so far.

The Kenya Kwanza Government promised to streamline the benefits that accrue to the artists from the skiza tunes and other revenue streams.

• On 12 December 2024, the President directed the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO), industry players and E-Citizen to establish a transparent royalty collection system for artists in Kenya.
• In August 2025, the President further directed KECOBO to take the necessary steps to ensure the integration of a digital royalties collection and payment system into the government’s E-Citizen platform to eliminate middlemen and brokers earning more than the artists themselves. He further stated that KECOBO has begun enforcing the requirement that 70% of royalties go directly to artists and warned that Collective Management Organisations (CMOs) that fail to comply would risk immediate loss of their licenses.
• The government recently gazetted new Consolidated Music and Audio-Visual Works Tariffs, effective from January 1, 2026. These tariffs standardize licensing fees for businesses using copyrighted content to ensure fair compensation for creators over the next three years.
• Based on the new tariff rates, artists stand to gain more benefits between 2026 and 2028 for music used in political rallies, among other purposes. 

The Kenya Kwanza Government promised that it would enforce copyright laws through a Government led awareness campaign on copyright laws and the enforcement mechanisms as a way of ensuring knowledge about the issue and increasing earnings by artists.

• The Kenya Copyright Board frequently conducts trainings on copyright laws and enforcement mechanisms.
• The Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) frequently conducts countrywide training for creatives, including musicians, filmmakers, and visual artists, to educate them on intellectual property (IP) rights.
• KECOBO has extended its awareness campaign to the Judiciary and National Police Service, training over 60 judges and 100 magistrates on copyright infringement to ensure effective prosecution of IP theft.
• Additionally, Kenya hosted the Second International Symposium on Intellectual Property Protection and Enforcement (ISIPPE-2) in 2024 to position the country as a regional leader in IP protection.
• In April 2025, KECOBO conducted a ‘Faidika na Sanaa Yako’ initiative to support monetization of creative works.

The Kenya Kwanza Government promised to provide free investment and basic training skills leveraging on the Hustler Fund to musicians to ensure they are able to turn their talents into businesses.

• While the Hustler Fund was launched in November 2022, there is no public record of the establishment of any free investment and skills training programs.

• Musicians can access Hustler Fund loans like other informal sector participants, but a dedicated free investment package or structured business incubation program specifically for musicians has not been institutionalized nationwide as of May 2026.