The Director General of the Ministry of Education, (MoE) Elyas Abdi Jillow has stressed the need to cultivate young talent as future content creators and agents of innovation.
Speaking at the 97th Kenya National Music Festivals opening ceremony in Meru County recently, Jillow said that musical festival is not only a platform to showcase students talents but a powerful vehicle for national identity and community building.
“Artistic expression through music, elocution, dance, and drama is not merely for entertainment but a powerful vehicle for innovation, job creation, community building, and national identities,” Jillow said.
He linked the festival to the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), which aims to foster diverse skills and promote national unity.
“The creative economy is one of the fastest-growing sectors globally,” he said. “In Kenya, it is time we position our learners to be producers of content, not just consumers; to be job creators, not just job seekers.”
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His sentiments were echoed by Meru Governor Isaac Mutuma who said that the festival is a vital engine of economic growth and national identity, connecting the festival’s theme, ‘Enhancing the Creative Economy through Artistic Expression for Sustainable Development,’ to Meru County’s commitment to supporting young talent.
“This festival enhances the creative economy through artistic expression for sustainable development,” he stated. “Our oral traditions, folk dances, and ancestral melodies are not museum relics. They are the living heartbeats of who we are. This stage has launched numerous stars. What begins as a school performance often becomes a lifelong career, and that journey begins here.”
This year, Equity Group is a key partner for the 2025 Kenya Music Festivals, providing a significant Ksh 25 million sponsorship. This partnership, according to Peter Muturi, Head of Commercial Marketing at Equity Bank, underscores the bank’s commitment to empowering communities through comprehensive insurance solutions.
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“This year’s KMF theme aligns perfectly with Equity’s own theme: ‘Securing Lives Transformed and Wealth Created through Life, Health, and Wealth Insurance,’ reflecting our dedication to securing lives, transforming futures, and fostering sustainable wealth,” Muturi explained.
“We firmly believe that investing in creative talent leads to thriving communities and national prosperity. Young artists are future visionaries and change-makers, and Equity Group is proud to champion their growth as part of Kenya’s 80 billion gig economy.”
The festival will feature participants from various educational levels, including preschools, primary schools, junior secondary schools, secondary schools, teacher training colleges, TVET institutions, and universities.
Events are scheduled to run from August 4 to August 12 across Meru School, Meru Teachers College, and Kaaga Girls High School. The winners’ galas will take place on August 13 and 14, with a State Concert at Sagana State Lodge to cap off the event on August 16.
By Felix Wanderi
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