Africa-Press – Kenya. President William Ruto has proposed that school drama and film festivals be funded directly under the Ministry of Education budget to ensure consistent and predictable financing.
Speaking on Friday during the 64th Kenya National Drama and Film Festival State Concert at State House, Nairobi, Ruto said the current funding structure has gaps that affect planning and sustainability of the festivals.
“I want now to transition that this becomes a budgetary item in the Ministry of Education to make sure there is predictable funding for these festivals,” Ruto said.
School drama and film festivals are currently funded through a mix of government capitation, contributions from schools and support from partners, with allocations often varying across regions and levels of competition.
In many cases, schools and parents shoulder part of the costs, including transport, costumes, production and accommodation, especially during regional and national competitions.
Ruto said anchoring the festivals within the Education ministry budget would streamline the funding model and provide a stable framework for organising the annual events.
The President said the festivals have evolved beyond co-curricular engagements to become critical platforms for nurturing creativity, building confidence and identifying talent among learners.
“These festivals are living classrooms of creativity, bringing together some of the most gifted young scriptwriters, performers and storytellers,” he said.
Ruto said predictable funding would not only support participation but also improve the quality of productions and expand opportunities for learners across the country.
The move would place creative arts at the centre of the country’s education and talent development agenda, in line with ongoing reforms.
“This is an education system that gives every child a chance and recognises the different talents and capabilities of our children,” he said.
The President said the festivals have also become entry points into the wider creative economy, with many young people using them to build careers.
“They have transformed this platform into a vital seasonal source of employment for many young talents,” Ruto said.
He linked the proposal to the need for better planning within schools, noting that delays in funding have in the past disrupted learning and co-curricular activities.
“In the past, our children went to school and waited for capitation for weeks and months, but we are changing that,” he said.
Ruto said ensuring timely and structured funding would allow schools to prepare adequately for festivals and reduce uncertainty around participation.
He said funds for the next school term would be released ahead of reopening to allow institutions to plan effectively.
“That is how serious we are about ensuring that our teachers have the resources to teach our children,” he said.
Additionally, the President said the government has, over the past three years, invested heavily in the education sector to support such pathways, including the recruitment of teachers and expansion of infrastructure noting that they have employed close to 200,000 teachers and built more than 23,000 classrooms to support education system.
If implemented, the proposal would mark a significant policy shift by formally recognising drama and film festivals as an essential part of the education system rather than auxiliary activities.
Ruto said strengthening such platforms would not only support learners but also position Kenya as a hub for creative talent.
“Your contribution strengthens Kenya’s creative industry, inspires our young people and positions our nation as a global hub of talent and innovation,” he said.
