Use technology to create jobs and catalyze economy, Kisiang’ani tells creators

The government is set to spend more than Ksh15 billion in a bid to support the creative industry and make the country to be the creative hub destination.

Principal Secretary for Broadcasting and Telecommunications, Professor Edward Kisiang’ani, has urged the stakeholders in the creative economy to leverage technology and innovation to create more jobs and catalyze the nation’s economic growth. Kisiangani who was speaking at Konza Technopolis Creative Economy Conference in Nairobi dubbed the creative sector in the digital economy observed that the government is working to streamline the creative sector for favorable tax regimes and financing policies.

The PS revealed that the government will spend Ksh15.1 billion in developing the digital superhighway in a bid to position Kenya as a unique creative economy hub destination. He added that the government is seeking financial support from the private sector to further develop the creative as the private sector seeks to leverage government facilities such as the digital superhighway and the Konza Technopolis Data Centre.

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“The government is ready to support the creative economy so that it can create more jobs at individual and institutional level. This sector presents a positive opportunity for more job opportunities for Kenyans because we don’t have capacity in government to give everybody a job,” said PS Kisiang’ani.“

On his part, John Paul Okwiri, CEO Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KoTDA) noted that they are supporting creative startups at the National Tier III data centre with one year freehosting in view of building a sustainable media city project. “You will realize that the youth are asking for opportunities. With our state of the art data centre, we are providing an opportunity for the youth in creative economy with storage,” said Okwiri.

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The Konza Digital Media City is envisioned to provide an ecosystem that promotes training, research and innovation in the digital media and entertainment industries in Kenya and the African region. Konza city is a flagship project of Kenyas vision 2030.