Kenyan President Ruto pushes anti‑piracy measures and earmarks 30% of govt ads for creatives

At the Kalasha International Film and TV Awards, President William Ruto publicly warned Dennis Itumbi, head of Presidential Special Projects and Creative Economy, about the rising piracy problem in Kenya's film sector. Ruto demanded a concrete anti‑piracy roadmap within two weeks and linked Itumbi's job security to the delivery of results, noting the loss of platforms such as Showmax due to illegal distribution.

During the same ceremony, Ruto announced that 30 percent of government advertising spend will be directed to creative platforms, a policy aimed at scaling investment in Kenya’s creative economy. He became the first head of state to attend the awards, emphasizing the government’s commitment to supporting local content creators and boosting the sector’s revenue potential.