Bungoma: Teachers who dedicate their time to nurturing learners in music, drama, sports, and other co-curricular activities are set to gain an advantage in career progression, with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) moving to recognize their contribution in promotion guidelines. TSC chairman Dr. Jamleck Muturi announced that activities ranging from music, drama, creative arts, ball games, and science congresses would be considered in the career progression of teachers.
According to Kenya News Agency, Dr. Muturi emphasized the importance of these activities in the progression criteria during an event at Kibabii University in Bungoma. This event was the winners’ concert of the 98th Kenya National Music Festival, which gathered learners, teachers, parents, trainers, adjudicators, and education officials nationwide.
Dr. Muturi shared that the government had recently allocated funds to promote more than 34,000 teachers, building on the 270,000 teachers promoted over the previous three years. He also expressed concern over the shortage of teachers in music, creative arts, home science, woodwork, and metalwork and called on universities and teacher-training institutions to provide more training opportunities in these disciplines.
Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Julius Ogamba highlighted the Kenya Music Festival’s role in nurturing talent among learners and creating opportunities for teachers to develop young performers. In a speech read by Education Principal Secretary Dr. Beatrice Inyangala, Ogamba noted that the festival had transformed classrooms into concert halls and schools into creativity incubators, producing a range of professionals in the creative industries.
Ogamba stressed the economic significance of music, citing UNESCO figures indicating that cultural and creative industries generate over $2.25 trillion annually and provide employment to nearly 50 million people worldwide. He noted the emerging role of the creative economy in Kenya as a significant contributor to employment, innovation, and national income.
The Cabinet Secretary advocated for harmonizing the Kenya Music Festival across educational levels to nurture talent from the classroom to the professional stage. He mentioned government investments in the creative industry and policies encouraging the establishment of industries providing career opportunities for young people. He also called for universities to establish studios for producing creative works.
Host Governor Kenneth Lusaka expressed pride in hosting the festival and celebrating Kenya through its young performers. He emphasized music’s ability to bridge ethnic, regional, and linguistic differences and recognized Bungoma’s rich musical heritage.
Kenya Music Festival chairman Prof. Fred Ngala reported that the 2026 national edition attracted 143,000 student participants and awarded over 700 trophies. He highlighted the festival’s inclusivity, noting the participation of 13,137 learners with special needs, but raised concern over gender imbalance among participants.
Carol Rutto, Director and Head of Retail Banking at Equity Group, expressed the financial institution’s commitment to supporting the festival, emphasizing corporate investment’s role in teaching students to monetize their skills and talents.
