Sports and Culture Cabinet Secretary (CS) Amb Amina Mohammed on Monday officially launched the Sh100 Million stimulus package for artists, actors, and musicians.
Speaking during the launch at the Kenya National Theater, CS Amina Mohammed noted that the Sh100M stimulus package for artistes will run for a period of 3 months from May to July 2020, and will be spearheaded by various state agencies and sports organizations.
She divulged that no cash handouts will be given to artistes, adding that for any artiste to benefit from the money, he/she needs to produce content that educates, entertains and informs Kenyans and the entire world on the safety, and health guidelines required to stop COVID-19.
“Taking into account that the number of artistes in the country is estimated to be way above 100,000, giving cash handouts would have been ineffective in cushioning households as well as broadening the societal Covid-19 safety education,” she said.
This therefore means that the Ministry will adopt a ‘Work for Pay’ model, where you only get paid after producing content aimed at educating the masses on COVID-19. The content produced will then be aired on various platforms created by the Ministry including; Kulture TV.
CS Amina noted that the model is efficient as it will create continuity in the creative industry sector, and ensure that it remains stable even after COVID-19.
In a series of tweets after the launch, she directed all state officers involved in the project to maintain high level of integrity, and urged the media to give fair coverage to local content produced during this time.
“I direct HoDs and Agencies involved in implementing this program to guarantee and uphold due diligence. To also ensure that there is gender equity and artists from across the 47 counties are represented; 30% of whom will be vulnerable groups and persons living with disabilities,” She said.
“As the beneficiaries of this program play their part in managing #COVID19 ,I wish to appeal to the media fraternity to support the local creative economy by implementing the 60% local content quota to further this initiative & keep our artists in business even after #COVID19,” she added, as reported on Mdundo.
The stimulus packages comes after the creative economy was hard hit by the novel Coronavirus, that has affected industries world wide. As earlier reported on The Sauce, Willy Paul shared a special message to President Uhuru Kenyatta that led to the historical stimulus package.
Pozzee, Saldido International Records CEO went on to point out that the economy has undoubtedly been affected by the pandemic. And more importantly according to Paul, the music industry has been seriously hit. He noted, “The entertainment scene has been hit badly and sadly no one seems to care about whatever is happening to us… Mr. president, most of us depend on shows, gigs n etc as we all know that our Board of Music has been having issues with the artists. They’ve been stealing from us…from ring-back tones to every other thing… most of us depend on music for everything Mr. President. We have families that look up to us… right now we’re all home, not making any money.”
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