The Growth and Potential for the Creative Industry in Developing Countries: Challenges and Opportunities in Kenya (2000 -2016)

Abstract

Over the past several decades of debate regarding the mechanisms of economic development and growth in a rapidly digitising and globalising world, one of the key elements that has come to the forefront of discussion and policy discourse is the rapidly expanding service sector worldwide. In an age of unprecedented innovation, the service sector has grown quickly, upsetting formerly established societal mechanisms and changing the face of modern employment as participation in other sectors has slowly dwindled. Within this shift towards a service sector and/or knowledge-based economy, a sub-sector known as the cultural and creative industries emerged. The study examined the factors that have affected the growth of the creative industry in Kenya with a view of creating a better understanding of how the sector is connected to the country’s economic development and the global market. By the use of quantitative and qualitative methods, through interviews and analysis of numerous reports on the issue, the study was able to deduce that there is need for an enabling environment created by the government by offering incentives for entry into the industry and relaxed licensing procedures to ensure growth of the industry. Leaders in higher learning institutions must plan institutional structures in their academic debate and governance systems that will be an empowering environment of utilizing creative and ethnical industries. Pro-activity is needed to assist the evolvement of the creative economy by making sure that clear strategies that are less political are produced. Therefore, it is necessary for the government to aid in evolvement of this sector by not only pumping funds into it, but also holding workshops and seminars to create more enlightenment.