This archive report was first published on 12 May 2020.
On May 12, 2020, the government announced plans to pay Sh100 million to artistes for creating content about Covid-19.
The initiative, launched by Sports and Culture Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed, aims to mobilise creative cultural artists to join the anti-Covid war.
Comedians, cartoonists, actors, dancers, musicians, graffiti artists, and film-makers among other creative artists will each be rewarded on a work-for-pay formula for their content uploaded on the ministry's KultureTV portal.
Ms Mohamed waived registration charges for creative artistes planning to participate in the programme, with all works to be uploaded on the KultureTV portal within the next three months and then vetted.
Approved content will be paid for and then distributed via the ministry's website as well as a premium messaging service to be rolled out in late July.
Another Sh200 million is also set to be released to artists by the organisations that collect royalties on behalf of the artistes.
