President William Ruto has revealed that Kenya has already paid Sh500 million as part of its bid to host the Grammy Awards in 2027, potentially making it the first African country to host the prestigious event.
Speaking during a Town Hall meeting on Monday night, Ruto stated that the payment has been confirmed by representatives of the Grammys who were present at the event.
“The money for Grammys, we already paid. We already paid Sh500 million, and I’m sure the gentleman from Grammys can confirm that this is the direction we are going,” the President said.
The announcement followed remarks by Dennis Itumbi, Head of Presidential Special Projects and Creative Economy, who underscored the government’s commitment to elevating Kenya’s creative sector. Itumbi emphasized that hosting major international events, such as the Grammys and the World Creative Economy Conference, would unlock the full potential of the country’s creative industry.
“The President has already given instructions for us to begin bidding for the World Creative Economy Conference in 2027, to make Kenya the first African country to host the global sector here. This will unlock the entire creative economy,” Itumbi remarked.
President Ruto also highlighted ongoing legislative efforts to strengthen the creative industry. He mentioned the Creative Bill, which is currently in Parliament, as a pivotal measure to address challenges in the sector, including intellectual property and piracy issues.
“The Creative Bill is going through Parliament to specifically remove the challenges you have highlighted. It will update outdated legislation, provide a solid footing on intellectual property matters, and conclusively deal with piracy issues,” Ruto said.
Additionally, the President noted that his administration is advancing other legislative measures, such as the Culture Bill, which has already received Cabinet approval. Other bills under development include the Creative Economy Framework, the National Kiswahili Council of Kenya Bill, the Kenya Film Bill, and the National Heritage and Museums Bill.
Since assuming office, President Ruto has prioritized the growth of Kenya’s creative and digital economy, citing it as a key driver of transformation and employment creation.
“Our Plan identifies the creative economy as well as culture and heritage as highly promising drivers of transformation and employment creation,” the President reiterated.
By bidding to host global events like the Grammys and enacting robust legislative frameworks, Kenya aims to position itself as a hub for creativity and innovation on the African continent and beyond.
