Ruto To Rename Permanent Presidential Music Commission

President William Ruto on Wednesday, August 23 hinted at plans to rebrand the Permanent Presidential Music Commission (PPMC) by changing its name.

Speaking in Nakuru during the Kenya Music Festival Winner's State Concert, Ruto revealed that the PPMC will be renamed the Creative Commission of Kenya (CCoK). This is in a bid to have talents monetised across the country.

He added that a Bill is currently being drafted to facilitate the same and should be presented to Parliament in the next two months before it becomes law.

Traditional musicians performing during a past national celebration. /PERMANENT PRESIDENTIAL MUSIC COMMISSION

“I have given CS Ababu Namwamba and team a maximum of two months to make sure that the bill finds its way to Parliament so that we can build the right space to monetise talents,” directed Ruto.

He added that the name change is being formulated between the ministries of Education and Youth, Arts, and Sports.

Additionally, CCoK will not only have its professional studios set up in Nairobi only as has been the case with the PPMC but will allow the construction of professional studios across the country to support artists.

"We are already working on a creative bill that is going to make sure that the creative commission will not only have professional studios in Nairobi but in every county in Kenya," he noted.

"We are working with county governments so that we can give opportunity to every artist whether they are in primary or secondary school to explore the opportunities that are there for them to be able to professionalize the art they are gifted with."

Further alluding to the 80 per cent monetization on YouTube which made Kenya one of the four countries on the African continent that can monetize content on YouTube, Ruto directed the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) to ensure that its YouTube channel is populated with the performances of this year’s music festivals within the next month to monetize upcoming talents.

He likewise stated that he has been holding discussions with owners of top social media platforms among them Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube to seek the greenlight of monetizing content in Kenya.

The Permanent Presidential Music Commission (PPMC) is a government department whose mandate is to coordinate music and dance activities in the country and spearhead the development of the same from mere entertainment activities into a stable industry.

The commission was formed through Kenya Gazette notice No. 2132 of April 1988. It was mandated to implement the report of a task force established to look into the development and preservation of music and dance in Kenya.

PPMC covers the areas of music education, music research, music in the media, music performances, musicians’ rights and obligations and preservation and conservation of the music and heritage of Kenya, among others.