Government to support the creative sector economy

Broadcasting and Telecommunications PS Prof. Edward Kisiangani addressing participants during the KONZA Technopolis Creative Economy Conference at Movenpick Hotel, Nairobi on June 27, 2023[Boniface Okendo, Standard]

The government through the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology has pledged its support to the creative industry.

The ministry said they are determined to help the players in the sector realise the vast opportunities in the sector.

Principal Secretary for Information Communication and Technology Professor Edward Kisiang'ani said the government is working on projects that will see the industry grow.

"The government has banked on programs to enhance the development of the creative economy using the digital platforms and by extension enhance its development," said Kisiang'ani

He was speaking in Nairobi on Tuesday during the Konza Technopolis Creative Economy Conference.

Kisiang'ani, noting the high rate of illiteracy in the use of digital platforms, said they are going to facilitate training citizens on the relevance of the sector.

"We have already embarked on the process of training the citizens to improve on their digital illiteracy to acquire skills that make them relevant to the ever-changing world," the PS said.

Kisiang'ani said that the government has rolled out the process of developing the network centres across the country to ensure citizens have access to digital opportunities.

"The government have set the pace in the process of setting up 25, 000 hot sports to be deployed country-wide to help people access the internet and explore areas that lead them to make money," he said.

According to the PS, the government is accelerating the automation and digitization of core government services to ease their access to the citizens.

Kisiang'ani said Konza Technopolis will be transformed to be the epicentre of the Open University that will champion the development and implementation of policies and regulations to govern the sector.

At the same time, Kisiang'ani challenged artists to create content that identifies with the African culture as it will speak to African values and will help in promoting local content internationally.

"Create content that speaks to our African values to tap the market, don't chase Europe or America as you will not do better than they do,"

The PS further defended the government's tax formulation calling for serious discussions to ensure the industry complies with remitting tax, saying there is a need to streamline the tax proposed to ensure creative artists will not be overtaxed.

"The crisis of revenue collection, accessing credit and tax need serious discussions to ensure the industry grows in proper resolutions," said Kisiang'ani.