President William Ruto has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to positioning Kenya as a creative hub by pushing for Nairobi to host the first-ever African edition of the Grammy Awards.
Speaking during the 97th Kenya Music Festival State Concert at Sagana in Nyeri on Saturday, Ruto revealed that he would travel to the United States next month to engage with the Recording Academy the organizers of the Grammy Awards to advance talks on establishing world-class recording studios in Kenya. He said the move would be a crucial step towards hosting the Grammys on African soil.
“Earlier this year, we hosted the inaugural US-Kenya Creative Economy Forum, a milestone whose impact will soon be felt across the industry,” Ruto said. “Next month, I will meet with the Recording Academy to fast-track plans for setting up world-class studios here in Kenya and to set in motion the journey towards eventually hosting an African edition of the Grammys in Nairobi.”
The president acknowledged skepticism over the initiative but insisted the government would deliver. He also revealed that the Recording Academy had shown interest in anchoring their presence at the upcoming Talanta Stadium, directing the Ministry of Youth and Creative Economy to ensure the facility meets global standards.
If successful, Nairobi would become the first African city to host a Grammy event a major milestone for Kenya’s creative economy.
Kenya’s bid for the Grammys first hit headlines last year after Ruto disclosed that his administration had already paid Ksh.500 million as part of the bidding process. “We have already paid the Ksh.500 million. This is not something we are planning to do; it’s already done,” he said at the KICC during the Hustler Fund’s second anniversary.
However, the revelation sparked criticism, with many questioning the government’s priorities amid rising living costs. In response, Presidential adviser Dennis Itumbi clarified that the funds were not a donation but a bid fee, refundable if Kenya does not win.
The outcome of the bid is expected to be a defining moment for Kenya’s push to cement itself as a continental creative powerhouse.
