‘Nairobi Will Honour Musicians!’ – Sakaja States As Plans Underway For E-Sir
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has stated that efforts are ongoing to rename roads in Nairobi after musicians.
He stated that this will honour musicians and ensure their legacy is remembered, noting that Nairobi County has attracted big local and worldwide performers.
Sakaja stated that one of the roads in South C will be named after the late Boomba musician Issah M’mari Wangui, better known as E-Sir.
“We shall be honouring our artists by renaming some of the roads after them. One of the roads in South C shall be named after the great hero E-sir,” he said.
Governor Sakaja: Our artists and musicians drive economic growth. We shall be honouring our artists by renaming some of the roads and one of the roads in South C shall be renamed after the great hero E-Sir.#JamhuriDay2024 pic.twitter.com/aPqQq8kRAM
— K24 TV (@K24Tv) December 12, 2024
E-sir died tragically in March 2003 after being involved in a car accident in Naivasha.
He died at the age of 21, just as he was gaining popularity in Kenyan hip-hop with successful songs that earned him four Kisima Music Awards in 2003.
Most roads in Nairobi are named after prominent politicians and leaders in the country.
Speaking at the 61st Jamhuri Day celebrations at Uhuru Gardens, Sakaja praised the national government’s efforts to open up the digital sector.
The governor claimed that social media and entertainment applications have experienced unprecedented growth.
The unprecedented growth, according to the county chief, has created an opportunity for artists to earn a living from their creative works.
“We thank you President William Ruto because you have led from the front, you have engaged TikTok, YouTube and other platforms,” he said.
“You have travelled to international countries to engage many people and our young people can now monetise their content.”
The governor also encouraged young people to develop content in order to monetize and make a life from it.
According to Sakaja, young people do not require a permit to shoot free material in the city during the weekends.
President William Ruto stated that the country is investing in indigenous content development to improve the quality and competitiveness of Kenya’s creative products for export.
He added that the action will help to build digital channels for distributing Kenyan creativity to global audiences.
“I’m confident that we are firmly on course to transform opportunities for our creative industry,” Ruto said.
“I salute the actors in our creative spaces whose work brings life to our cities, streets and screens, yet their achievements are overshadowed by injustice.”
However, the President expressed dissatisfaction with the low royalties granted to artists for their innovative works.
ALSO READ:
- REVEALED: Countries Exploiting Kenyans With Fraudulent Recruitment [LIST]
- NTSA Issues New Data On Driving Licenses, Urges Applicants To Track Progress
- UN’s Antonio Gutierrez Set To Visit Kenya Next Week For MAJOR Expansion
- Ruto Issues Orders For 44,000 Intern Teachers After End of Contract
- “Kenya Is Not Exporting Blood!” – Health Ministry Says After Viral Export Report
“Musicians, who are the heartbeat and soul of our culture, have long been denied their rightful earnings,” stated Ruto.
“It is unacceptable that an artist earns as little as 10,000 shillings a year while those tasked with collecting their royalties pocket millions monthly.”
Ruto directed the Kenya Copyright Board, in collaboration with industry partners and eCitizen, to create a transparent, real-time system for royalty collection and distribution to legitimate owners and beneficiaries.
The President stated that Kenya is committed to celebrating talent and showcasing its vibrant culture to the globe by bidding to host the 2026 Global Creative Economy Conference.
‘Nairobi Will Honour Musicians!’ – Sakaja States As Plans Underway For E-Sir
