NAIROBI, Kenya– A cohort of twelve Kenyan creatives has completed a three-month Virtual Production Bootcamp, signalling new momentum in efforts to build the country’s digital economy.
The program, jointly delivered by Konza Technopolis, the Kenya Film Commission (KFC), and Genesis Design Factory, exposed participants to practical training in areas such as 2D and 3D animation, Extended Reality (XR), Augmented Reality (AR), and modern studio technologies.
The group was drawn from more than 600 young people who applied after a sensitization forum held in March.
Kenya’s creative industry has been gaining recognition as one of the fastest-expanding sectors within the knowledge economy.
It covers film, television, music, gaming, design, and digital content industries that have seen steady growth alongside internet penetration and a rising youth population.
Yet, despite this potential, a shortage of skilled professionals continues to limit its global competitiveness.
Globally, the creative sector is valued at over Sh 292 trillion, while immersive technologies including XR, AR, and VR are projected to generate more than Sh 780 billion in Africa by 2028.
Analysts say this presents an opening for Kenya to position itself as a continental hub if it can nurture talent capable of producing high-quality content for export.
“The integration of cutting-edge skills in virtual production also supports our vision of positioning Kenya as a competitive hub for Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and creative content export,” said John Tanui, Principal Secretary in the State Department for ICT and the Digital Economy.
Kenya Film Commission CEO Timothy Owase noted that the graduates are well placed to reduce the country’s reliance on imported content and enhance its presence in the global marketplace.
The training forms part of the broader Konza Digital Media City (KDMC), a flagship project aimed at hosting post-production facilities, gaming labs, and animation studios.
“Kenya’s creative economy is not just about entertainment; it is about powering a knowledge-driven economy,” said Josephine Ndambuki, Chief Manager of Business Development and Innovation at Konza.
Stakeholders argue that the initiative illustrates how partnerships between government and industry can fast-track skills development in emerging fields.
