The Kenya Film Commission (KFC), in partnership with the Uriri National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) under the leadership of Hon. Mark Nyamita, today officially launched the Uriri Film Hub in a vibrant ceremony held in Uriri Constituency, Migori County. This milestone follows a successful two-week intensive film capacity building programme that equipped 466 young creatives with practical skills in filmmaking, content creation, and digital storytelling.
The launch was graced by the Principal Secretary for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy, Hon. Fikirini Jacobs, alongside KFC Board Chairperson Mr. Sudi Wandabusi, Chief Executive Officer Mr. Timothy Owase, Hon. Mark Nyamita, development partners, county leadership, representatives from the creative industry and the Community from Uriri constituency.
Speaking during the ceremony, Principal Secretary for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy, Hon. Fikirini Jacobs, underscored the government’s commitment to transforming Kenya’s youth bulge into a demographic dividend through strategic investment in the creative economy.
“The Ministry has made a deliberate commitment to ensure that Kenya’s youth bulge becomes a dividend, not a deficit. The creative economy is one of the most powerful vehicles for achieving this,” he said.
He noted that with over 75% of Kenya’s population being youth, deliberate investments in skills, infrastructure, and opportunity creation are critical. PS further emphasized the government’s intention to scale similar initiatives across the country, integrating creative economy programmes into national youth empowerment strategies.
“Migori County has attributes that many global film locations would envy. The establishment of this hub sends a clear message that Migori is ready to be on Kenya’s creative economy map,” he added.
KFC Board Chairperson, Mr. Sudi Wandabusi, reaffirmed the Commission’s strategic mandate of growing and democratizing Kenya’s film industry by expanding opportunities beyond urban centers. “What we are witnessing today in Uriri is strategy in action. The creative sector is no longer on the sidelines of our economy—it is at the very heart of it,” he said.
He noted that the Commission envisions a nationwide network of film hubs to nurture a deep and diverse talent pipeline further emphasizing that Uriri Film Hub represents a deliberate investment in county-level infrastructure aimed at unlocking talent at the grassroots. “For too long, the film industry has been perceived to be confined to urban centers while vast reservoirs of talent in places like Migori remained untapped. This hub changes that equation,” he added.
KFC Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Timothy Owase, described the Uriri Film Hub as more than a physical facility, but rather a transformative space for creativity, learning, and enterprise.
“The young people who walked through those doors came with stories they had never been told they could tell. Today, they leave with professional, marketable, industry-grade skills,” he said.
The two-week programme trained 466 young creatives in scriptwriting, camera operation, lighting, sound production, editing, film business, entrepreneurship, and digital distribution.
“The Uriri Film Hub is infrastructure for the imagination—a permanent space where ideas are developed, stories are told, and opportunities are created,” he added further emphasizing that the hub answers a critical question often asked by young creatives: “Where do I go from here?”
“The answer is here: You go to the hub. You continue to create. You continue to grow,” he said.
The launch highlighted strong collaboration between the Kenya Film Commission, the Uriri NG-CDF, the Kenya Film School, and local leadership under Hon. Mark Nyamita. The Board Chair commended the partnership model, noting that community-driven collaboration is key to sustainable development. The Principal Secretary also pledged continued government support, including budgetary allocation to strengthen county-level creative infrastructure beyond launch phases. The Uriri Film Hub aligns with the Government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which prioritizes youth empowerment, job creation, and inclusive economic growth.
Through the creative economy, the hub is expected to stimulate local enterprise, support tourism, and create new income streams for young people in Migori County and beyond. With its diverse landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and vibrant youth population, Migori County is poised to become a key player in Kenya’s growing film industry. The Uriri Film Hub now joins Kenya’s expanding network of creative hubs aimed at decentralizing the industry and positioning Kenya as a premier global filming destination.
As the curtains fall on the launch, one message stood out clearly from all leaders: Migori is ready. The talent is ready. The future of Kenyan storytelling is already here.
