President William Ruto has proposed radical changes to the Permanent Presidential Music Commission.
He said he has already asked the relevant ministry to rename it the Permanent Creative Economy Commission (PCEA) in a bid to encompass all creative arts.
"We want to bring all arts and music into one ecosystem so that we can channel all government efforts and even bring the private sector to support it," Ruto said.
He was speaking on Friday when he hosted the drama festival winners at Statehouse, Nairobi.
Ruto noted that the move will ensure that the government "derive value, monetise, commercialise and give the best possible chance for those talented in the space to explore their best possibilities".
Permanent Presidential Music Commission (PPMC) was formed through Gazette notice No. 2132 of April 1988.
It's mandate is to promote the development and practice of music and dance as well as spearhead the growth and development of the music industry in the country.
PPMC is also tasked with coordinating music and dance activities in the country and spearheading the development of the same from mere entertainment activities into a stable industry.
The head of State also explained that the consolidation of the sports and arts was a deliberate move aimed at ensuring children display their talents.
Talanta Hela, he noted, is an initiative that will allow the government to commercialise and profile men and women positively in the creative industry.
"It is not going to be business as usual. Drama is not going to be just what we see here and ends here. We have to think beyond what it is," Ruto said as he challenged school children to explore their talents.
Underscoring the value of the industry, Ruto cited comedian Chipukeezy, UDA secretary general Cleophas Malala, MP John Kiarie and Dennis Itumbi as the products of creative arts.
On the creation of jobs, President Ruto said he has a plan that will see the over five million youth who do not have jobs get its value after completing school.
The government, he said, spends Sh650 billion annually in educating children in primary, secondary, TVETs and universities "yet we have refused to think how we are going to invest this huge resource when they get out of school".
"This is the reason why in this budget, we are asking ourselves how we are going to create these jobs, how we can make meaning of the Sh650 billion we use to educate our children," Ruto said.
