President William Ruto has announced a Sh5 million allocation for every school and institution that performed at the Kenya Music Festival State Concert in Bungoma, giving fresh backing to music and creative education.
Speaking at Bungoma State Lodge on Friday, Ruto said the money would help participating institutions improve facilities for music and other creative activities.
“The Ministry of Education will provide Sh5 million for every institution and every school that has participated here,” Mr Ruto said.
He said the funding was intended to recognise the effort of students, teachers and institutions that took part in the 98th Kenya Music Festival.
The President also used the event to outline his wider education agenda, saying students should be able to pursue courses for which they qualify regardless of their families’ financial circumstances.
He pointed to medicine and engineering, as well as music, film and the arts, as areas where students should be allowed to follow their abilities.
The student must do the course to which they have chosen, and they have the qualifications to do it,” President Ruto said, adding that finances should not force students into different programmes.
The remarks come as the government prepares changes to higher education placement and funding. The proposed approach is expected to link students’ course choices with financial support.
President Ruto also urged young people to take part in discussions about Kenya’s development beyond 2030. He challenged them to think not only about what the country could provide for their generation, but also about what they could contribute.
More than 30 institutions, including schools, colleges and universities, participated in this year’s festival. Kenyan students are also expected to engage in reciprocal cultural programmes with institutions in Uganda.
The President further highlighted the role of teachers in nurturing creative talent. He said the Teachers Service Commission had promoted 1,000 teachers involved in creative activities, following an earlier government commitment to recognise their contribution.
For years, music and other creative disciplines in schools have often been viewed as secondary to traditional academic subjects. The government says it wants to change that perception and create clearer pathways from talent development to careers.
The Sh5 million pledge could provide participating institutions with additional resources for facilities and equipment. Its impact, however, will depend on how the funds are released and spent.
At the Bungoma concert, the performances offered a reminder of the scale of talent being developed in Kenyan schools and of the growing effort to give creative work a larger place in the country’s education system.
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