Ruto's Bold Ksh500 Million Plan For Kenya To Host Grammys [VIDEO]

This is not fake news; President William Ruto stunningly revealed on Monday, December 9, that Kenya is on course to bring the Grammy Awards (Grammys) to the Republic, with his government committing Ksh500 million to ensure this happens.

Speaking during a Town Hall meeting at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Ruto revealed that representatives of the Grammys who were present at the event could confirm this.

"We have already paid the Ksh500 million. This is not something we are planning to do; it’s already done. I’m confident that the gentleman here from the Grammys can confirm that we’re on the right track to securing Kenya’s position in this exciting initiative," he said.

The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in the music industry.

President Ruto reveals that Kenya has paid Ksh500 million to host the Grammy Awards (Grammys)#ViralVideos pic.twitter.com/OiE1Gc0eA3 — Viral Tea Ke (@ViralTeaKe) December 9, 2024

They are regarded by many as the most prestigious and significant awards in the music industry worldwide. They were originally called the Gramophone Awards, as the trophy depicts a gilded gramophone.

Their inception was linked to the Hollywood Walk of Fame project, where music executives sought to recognize artists not eligible for stars on the Walk of Fame. Initially held in multiple locations, the first televised ceremony occurred in 1971. 

Over the years, the Grammys have evolved, with categories added and removed, and they are now regarded as a premier recognition in the music industry, akin to the Oscars in film. However, the awards have been held in the American nation since its inception in 1959. It has never been held outside of those borders, so to term Ruto's comments bold is not enough. 

However, its Recording Academy has organised international Grammy-related events. These include Grammy Museum exhibitions, special performances, and cultural outreach programs in various countries, including China, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

The government, however, failed to mention the timeline for the awards or whether it would be a Grammy-related event. While speaking at the event, Dennis Itumbi, the Head of Creative Economy and Special Projects in the Executive Office of the President, added that Ruto will meet a representative of the Recording Academy to iron out the modernities of the deal.

Should this bold proclamation be successful, this would see Kenya host all manner of A-list Hollywood personalities transcending showbiz, including film and music.

This means that Kenyans will have a rare experience of global music stars such as Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Adele, Kanye West etc, with their visits set to propel Kenya to a premier tourist destination while unlocking the potential for the creative economy.

In September 2023, former Sports CS Ababu Namwamba visited the Grammy Awards headquarters in Los Angeles, aiming to strengthen partnerships between Kenya and the Recording Academy. During his meeting with Academy President Panos Panay, they discussed initiatives to elevate Kenya's music scene. 

Two months later on December 12, 2023, Ruto announced that Grammy Awards would begin shooting multiple movies in the country.

"This administration has also taken deliberate steps to build and invest in the creative economy. First, the famous Grammy Awards have a partnership with us, and starting January, the innovation studios of Hollywood have agreed to begin shooting multiple movies right here in Kenya," he said then.