The Kenya Film Commission (KFC) in partnership with the Local Authorities Provident Fund (LAPFUND) has successfully concluded a three-day stakeholder validation workshop aimed at developing a customized pension product for Kenya’s creative sector.
The workshop brought together key stakeholders from across the creative ecosystem, including the Kenya Actors Guild, Photographers Association of Kenya, Digital Content Creators Association, Association of Film Editors Kenya, and the Scriptwriters Guild, among others, to provide sector insights and validate the proposed pension solution. The initiative seeks to address a longstanding challenge within the creative economy; limited access to structured retirement savings and social protection mechanisms for creatives whose careers are often characterized by freelance engagements, short-term contracts, and irregular income streams.
Speaking during the opening of the workshop, Kenya Film Commission CEO Mr. Timothy Owase, MBS, emphasized the importance of financial inclusion in strengthening the sustainability of Kenya’s creative economy.
“A thriving creative industry is not only built on talent and innovation but also on structures that safeguard the wellbeing and future of creatives. Financial inclusion and access to social protection are essential pillars in building a sustainable creative economy,” said Mr. Owase.
The CEO noted that the partnership with LAPFUND reflects KFC’s commitment to supporting creatives beyond skills development and industry growth by promoting long-term economic empowerment. The first day of the workshop focused on financial inclusion in the creative economy, creating a platform for stakeholders to understand the need for a tailored pension product that responds to the unique realities of creative professionals. Day two focused on the legal, regulatory, and compliance frameworks that will guide the pension scheme. Participants explored LAPFUND’s product development lifecycle, covering key stages including product design, piloting, launch, monitoring, and redesign to ensure the final product remains responsive to the needs of creatives.
Creative sector representatives also participated in breakout sessions where they provided valuable feedback on product viability, including accessibility, flexibility of contributions, affordability, and sustainability. The discussions recognized that many creatives operate outside traditional employment structures, making conventional pension models difficult to access. The proposed product aims to provide a flexible retirement savings solution that accommodates diverse income patterns while encouraging a culture of long-term financial planning. The workshop concluded with a final plenary session where stakeholders reviewed and adopted key resolutions, an implementation roadmap, and an action plan that will guide the next steps towards product development and eventual rollout.
Through this partnership, KFC and LAPFUND are working towards creating a transformative financial inclusion model that will empower thousands of creatives to build financial resilience, secure their future, and strengthen social protection within Kenya’s creative economy. This initiative aligns with the Kenya Film Commission’s mandate of developing a vibrant and sustainable film industry through capacity building, stakeholder collaboration, and initiatives that promote the welfare and growth of industry practitioners.
The customized pension product is expected to benefit professionals across the creative value chain, including actors, filmmakers, crew members, photographers, digital content creators, editors, scriptwriters, and other creative professionals. By embedding retirement planning within the broader creative ecosystem, the initiative represents a significant step towards ensuring that the people who create Kenya’s stories are also supported in building secure futures.
