Government announces plans to offer financial support to content creators

State Department for ICT Principal Secretary Eng. John Tanui has said the move aims to empower content creators grow their ventures.

“We are going also to engage our colleagues in other Ministries to ensure that the young people can access the funding that they might need. We are also working with partners to see how we can access additional funding and also grants that can help to grow the sector,” Eng. Tanui stated.

He announced the government has also partnered with Facebook to ensure that content creators earn from their work.

“We are very happy with even the collaboration we have with META. We have been able to unlock some funding to continue to build the sector and even make it possible for other players to also come and make their additional contribution. Government is committed to support the content creators”, the Principal Secretary said.

Eng. Tanui said the government is further banking on the partnership with digital platform players like META to unlock access to infrastructure through the digital hubs that are being built across the country.

The Principal Secretary made the remarks early today when he held a meeting with over 40 digital content creators at his office in Nairobi.

He said through partnerships with the government of South Korea, Kenya is putting up the largest digital media hub through the concert digital media facility at KONZA.

Speaking at the same event, Diana Yegon, a content creator lauded the government’s effort towards monetizing digital content, saying it has created job opportunities for them.

“As the creatives of this country, for the first time we are being appreciated, our efforts are being seen because for a very long time, content creators have been taken for granted. Our job has been taken like a joke and finally it is paying off and yes content creation pays”, she said.

Ms. Diana added “We don't have to go to work or report to the office. This is a full-time job and this is just to appreciate the government for granting us this opportunity and for our president for you know contacting and making connections with META and now as Kenyans, we are happy as content creators we now have a full-time job”.

Eng. Tanui at the same time stated the government is supporting the creative enterprise by building digital hubs across the country.

“Construction of centres of excellence which is a bigger size of digital hubs is going on in every county and we are also working with Members of Parliament to ensure every ward across the country has a digital hub.”, the Principal Secretary further said.

He said digital hubs are platforms that will help young people in the villages to have spaces they can access internet, devices, computers and training.