Parliament Moves to Give Content Creators Legal Recognition and Strong Government Support
Kenya’s creator economy may soon experience major changes if a new Bill being reviewed in the National Assembly is passed without alterations.
Lawmakers are speeding up plans to transform the country’s creative sector through the Creative Economy Support Bill (Senate Bill No. 30 of 2024), which seeks to regulate and support the fast-growing digital and cultural industries.
During a recent stakeholder meeting held in Naivasha, the Departmental Committee on Sports and Culture met with various players in the creative space to discuss the details of the proposed law.
The committee, chaired by Webuye West MP Dan Wanyama, is currently scrutinising the Bill—already approved by the Senate—to refine it before it moves to the next legislative phase.
The Bill, co-sponsored by Migori Senator Eddy Gicheru Oketch and nominated MP Irene Mayaka, introduces wide-ranging reforms that touch multiple creative fields.
These include music, film, digital content creation, fashion, photography, cultural performance, gaming, and sports innovation.
The overall aim is to strengthen the foundation of Kenya’s creative industry and ensure sustainable growth.
A key focus of the Bill is to guarantee reliable funding, proper structures, and clear professional standards for people working in creative industries.
At the core of the legislation is the plan to set up a Creative Industry Council, which will guide government decisions, coordinate national programmes, and protect the rights of creators.
The council will act as the highest decision-making body in the creative sector and will also help connect creatives to markets, incentives, and investment opportunities.
The council will be supported by an Advisory Board made up of representatives from government agencies and creative industry professionals. It will also have a full-time secretariat hosted within the relevant ministry to ensure continuous operations.
Another major proposal in the Bill is the creation of a Roll of Creatives, a national register that will formally recognise creatives as professionals.
Once registered, creatives will gain access to government-backed incentives, protection frameworks, and professional development programmes.
While registration will open up more opportunities, it will remain voluntary for all practitioners.
The Bill also plans to establish an online platform that will consolidate important information, such as training opportunities, available grants, incentives, and other resources that creatives can use to grow their careers.
The Naivasha session brought together officials from the Ministry of Youth Affairs, the Ministry of Creative Economy and Sports, the Attorney-General’s Office, and civil society organisations advocating for inclusive governance and better support for creatives.
Beyond funding and subsidies, the Bill proposes a wide range of incentives, including tax exemptions, a credit guarantee scheme, stronger intellectual property protections, and other special benefits aimed at making the creative sector more sustainable and attractive.
Because the Bill introduces a publicly funded national resource, it qualifies as a Money Bill under Article 114 of the Constitution.
This means the National Assembly will play a central role in determining how the fund will be financed, allocated, and managed to ensure accountability and efficiency.
During the stakeholder meeting, MP Dan Wanyama emphasised Parliament’s commitment to speeding up the passage of the Bill. He thanked the stakeholders for contributing their ideas and stressed the importance of establishing a clear legal framework for Kenya’s creatives.
“We need this law. It will be vital for our country and for the millions of young people whose livelihoods depend on creativity. We appreciate all the stakeholders who turned up and shared their views with utmost clarity,” Wanyama said.
The Bill, if passed, is expected to provide long-awaited structure, support, and recognition to Kenya’s creative community, marking a new chapter for digital and cultural industries across the country.
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