Kenya’s young filmmakers, digital creators, and storytellers have marked a major milestone, graduating from the Kenya Film School (KFS) and stepping into the nation’s fast-growing creative economy.
The 2022 and 2023 cohorts received certificates recognizing mastery in cinematography, editing, sound directing, documentary production, scriptwriting, and the full film development cycle.
Speaking Wednesday at the graduation ceremony held at the Kenya Film School (KFS) Grounds, Kasarani Sports Center, Nairobi, Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, Salim Mvurya, commended the graduates for their perseverance and talent, emphasizing the government’s commitment to youth as central actors in national development.
“KFS equips students with practical and theoretical skills to produce high-quality content that tells Kenya’s story,” he said.
Describing KFS as a key pillar in Kenya’s creative ecosystem, Mvurya said the school, the first government-owned film talent institution in East and Central Africa and a registered TVET under the TVET Act of 2013, has produced award-winning graduates, recognized at the Kalasha International Film Festival, Kenya National Drama and Film Festival, Riverwood Academy Awards, Kenya International Sports Film Festival, and Filamu Awards.
“Talent, when supported, becomes a national asset,” he added.
Mvurya also announced plans to upgrade KFS into a world-class campus with studios, a theater hall, digital editing suites, sound stages, lecture rooms, student accommodation, and innovation labs.
“We are transforming KFS into a Center of Excellence where creativity, technical skills, and innovation converge,” he said, noting partnerships with Canon, KBC, Netflix, Zamaradi Productions, and the Kenya Film Commission to expose students to global industry standards.
He urged graduates to showcase Kenya’s diversity from the Indian Ocean coast to Mount Kenya, the Rift Valley, and the lake region.
“Your creativity will project this diversity and attract investment, while inspiring change,” he said.
CS stressed that responsible storytelling impacts national perception and economic development.
“Positive narratives encourage investors and tourism, while negative portrayals can deter growth and opportunities for young people,” Mvurya said.
Mvurya highlighted government support through youth empowerment centers, digital innovation hubs, and financing avenues such as the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, noting that expanding fiber optic connectivity across the country will enhance technology access for young creatives.
He also emphasized mentorship and collaboration with experienced industry professionals.
“Graduates should embrace mentorship and co-existence with seasoned professionals. Through these partnerships, skills are refined, networks expanded, and innovation accelerated,” he said.
Principal Secretary (PS) for Youth Affairs, Fikirini Jacobs, urged graduates to embrace confidence and responsibility in their careers.
“Every employer should now begin to look at the young people, not merely as victims, but in terms of the energy and the hope they bring to the table. His Excellency the President said it, and it is working. And that is why I appointed myself to be a silent referee of every young person who seeks an opportunity in this country,” he said.
He encouraged organizations and employers to recognize young talent through this lens.
“When the organizations or the employer bodies look for them, look at them through my eyes; they can at least begin to believe that even the young people of this country are able to do something. And I wish you the very best. I hope to see you at the top,” added the PS.
The Principal Secretary further emphasized that graduates must combine talent with discipline, collaboration, and professionalism to thrive.
Jacobs noted that the stories they choose to tell and the values they embed in their work will shape not only their careers but also Kenya’s identity globally.
He highlighted the importance of mentorship and leveraging programs like NYOTA to access opportunities in the creative economy.
“You are entering an ecosystem rich with support and potential. Use these resources wisely, maintain integrity, and let your creativity shine, because your contribution will influence both the industry and the nation’s narrative,” Jacobs said.
KFS has become a hub for nurturing talent, bridging formal education and industry demands. Its curriculum emphasizes practical training, with 70 percent hands-on and 30 percent theoretical learning, ensuring graduates are industry-ready.
Since 2016, the school has produced seven intakes consistently recognized nationally and internationally.
Graduates leave at a time when Kenya’s creative economy is expanding rapidly, with local TV and streaming platforms demanding Kenyan content and international recognition for films and digital media rising. Government support through creative hubs, film labs, and incubation centers provides access to equipment, mentorship, and collaborative opportunities, strengthening the sector’s potential.
The graduation ceremony, thus, not only celebrated the achievements of the 2022 and 2023 cohorts but also reinforced the government’s vision of a thriving, youth-driven creative economy, contributing to national development, cultural expression, and international recognition.
by Naif Rashid
