Ogamba pledges more funding, equity in Arts as curtain falls on Kenya Music Festival

The Karen C Girls School performs at the Kenya Music Festival on August 13, 2025 [Mike Kihaki, Standard] The government pledge to enhance financial support in co-curricular activities as learners transition to the Competency-Based Education (CBE) curriculum in senior secondary school next year. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba hailed the Kenya Music Festival (KMF) as a powerful tool for nurturing creativity, fostering cultural unity, and driving the Competency-Based Education (CBE) agenda, while calling for greater equity and investment in the arts. The CS highlighted the festival's alignment with CBE's focus on creativity, imagination, and communication, noting its role in building self-confidence, discipline, perseverance, teamwork, and collaboration among learners. "Music helps our learners nurture creativity and talents. Competitions like this give them a platform for self-expression and prepare them for life in a competitive world," the CS added. Speaking during the closing ceremony of the 97th edition of the festival, Kenya Music Festival Ogamba lauded the creativity and discipline on display over the two-week event and called for the establishment of a national performing and creative arts academy to fully tap into Kenya's talent. "We have so much talent within our borders that remains unexploited. The ministry will set up a team to develop a program for such an academy, aligning it with the three new CBE pathways where performing arts will be mainstreamed in the curriculum," the CS said. The CS noted that the ministry, together with the National Treasury, would push for increased allocations from Parliament to ensure learners are fully supported in nurturing their talents through music, drama, and other creative arts. "The ministry, with that of the Treasury, will strive for more resource allocation from the National Assembly to ensure activities are well funded and learners are seamlessly facilitated," the CS said. "These activities are part and parcel of our young ones and will be given equal priority in funding, alongside improving the legal environment for greater equity and inclusion." The CS emphasised the importance of the festival in promoting creativity, self-expression, and values among learners, linking its objectives to the pillars of CBE. "Music helps our learners to nurture creativity and talents, building confidence, discipline, perseverance, and teamwork," the CS noted. "The theme this year aligns with the CBE we are rolling out, ensuring talents are well tapped and nurtured as we prepare learners who are holistic and ready for 21st-century life." He also praised the growing participation of Special Needs Education (SNE) learners, with over 250 institutions and 5,250 students taking part this year. "This is a trajectory we must foster so that the festival is a true reflection of Kenya," the CS said, pledging that the government will not only sustain financial support but also improve the legal environment to ensure equity and inclusion in all competitions. Festival Chairperson Prof. Frederick Ngala revealed that this year's performances were deliberately "Africanized," with 60 percent of the items focusing on African themes, music, and culture. He described the event as "the greatest and most serious music extravaganza in the region and the world," noting its educational significance under CBE implementation. "As we implement CBE, we are ensuring full compliance with government regulations, and this festival remains a great session of learning for our children," he said. Prof. Ngala proposed the establishment of a national academy for the creative arts to give learners a pathway beyond the festival stage. "Going forward, we suggest the creation of a national academy for the creative arts so that learners can take professional courses here before pursuing their pathways," he said. He said such an academy, designed in collaboration with the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), would guide learners transitioning into careers in the arts. "It would provide space where learners, after performing, can take courses before they continue to pursue their pathways. If the curriculum is constructed by KICD, we can transition learners effectively." He credited the President's directive to fund arts and sports through the Sports, Arts, and Social Development Fund for revitalising the festival after years of financial struggle. The 97th Kenya Music Festival closed with renewed calls for policy support, investment in arts education, and the recognition of music and performance as central to shaping well-rounded 21st-century learners. Director General in the Ministry of Education Elyas Abdi lauded the festival as a unifying platform that promotes national cohesion and integration by bringing diverse cultures under one roof. "This country has a diverse culture where Kenyans can consume performances at a central place in the festival. The culture of any country is preserved through spoken word, music, drama, and dance. Every year we improve the quality of items on stage," Abdi said. He revealed that more than 140,000 learners participated nationally this year, crediting the Sports, Arts and Social Development Fund for boosting support following a presidential directive. "In previous years, funding was a challenge, but with government support, we have achieved a lot. Teachers have toiled to prepare learners, and reaching the national level is the dream of every child," Abdi said. The 97th Kenya Music Festival brought together thousands of learners, teachers, and stakeholders over two weeks, showcasing traditional and contemporary performances from all regions. The State Concert will be held at Sagana State Lodge on Saturday where winners will perform before President William Ruto.

Ogamba pledges more funding, equity in Arts as curtain falls on Kenya Music Festival

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