Kiambu County to set up a Sh30m music recording studio for local youth

Machel Waikenda

Kiambu County government's department of youth affairs, sports and communication is planning to start the construction of a Sh30 million art recording studio in the next financial year.

The studio set for Kiambu town is part of the budget presented to the county assembly for consideration and approval.

County Executive for youth Machel Waikenda says the department came up with the idea after realising there was a lot of talent among the youths in the county who have no support.

TALENT SHOWS

"Of late we have been holding talent shows in various places in the county and it is during this time that we discovered that our young men and women have talents which need to be nurtured," Mr Waikenda told The Standard.

Once the budget is approved and the funds are available, Waikenda says he anticipates that in less than one year, they will have come up with the building to house the recording studio and immediately equip it in order to be operational.

The executive says the Sh30 million will be enough for construction and purchase of the modern state-of-the-art equipment that will be needed.

"My department does not want to hear that young people are engaging in illicit brew due to lack of job opportunities again. Once the studio is complete, it will be opened for any one with a talent that need to be nurtured," he said.

Waikenda said once the studio starts to operate, the department will hire experts in the music field to equip the interested youths with the skills required before the actual recordings starts.

The department will also invite local artists who have progressed in music from time to time to advise interested youths how to make it in the industry by sharpening their skills and mentor them.

"Young people in the county will have a chance to showcase their prowess and more importantly earn a living out of music. By this, we will reduce unemployment by a very big margin while others will be motivated to join," said Waikenda.

Local youths will access the recording studio for free, their work verified and polished before being recorded. They will be given free music CDs of their own music to hit the market immediately as most of them cannot afford the high cost charged in commercial recording studios.