The Commission, in partnership with Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DeKUT), officially launched the KFC–DeKUT CineHub.
The ultra-modern facility, launched on Friday, 14 August 2026, is designed to bring film exhibition, talent development, practical training, audience development and creative entrepreneurship closer to young people and communities in the Central region.
The launch was presided over by Mr. Noah Otiende, Director, Department of Film Services, who represented the Chief Guest, Mr. Fikirini Katoi Jacobs, Principal Secretary, State Department for Youth Affairs and the Creative Economy. The occasion brought together Government, industry, academia and creative sector stakeholders to celebrate a new platform for growing Kenya’s creative economy.
More than a cinema, the CineHub provides a creative ecosystem with modern facilities for film exhibition and production, including video and audio facilities, editing bays and a dedicated screening room. The facility is intended to give creatives the space and tools to learn, experiment, collaborate and develop their work.
The launch also marked an important milestone for 139 young creatives who completed a seven-day Film Capacity Building Programme delivered by KFC, DeKUT and the Kenya Film School. The programme provided hands-on training across key areas of filmmaking, equipping participants with practical skills to pursue opportunities within the industry.
The impact of that training was visible during the launch when films produced by participants were screened for guests. Two of the productions explored mental health, demonstrating how investment in skills can translate into stories that speak to lived experiences and stimulate meaningful conversations.
For KFC CEO Mr. Timothy Owase, the next step is for creatives to view filmmaking not only as a passion, but as a viable business.
“Filmmaking and content creation must now be viewed through a business lens,not as entertainment alone.”
He challenged the graduates and emerging creatives to make full use of the CineHub to learn, experiment, collaborate and create, while positioning their skills for sustainable creative enterprises.
KFC Board Chairman Mr. Sudi Wandabusi emphasized that infrastructure must be matched by access to audiences and markets. He noted the importance of strengthening pathways through which Kenyan productions can reach cinemas, broadcasters, digital platforms, festivals and international markets.
The CineHub also strengthens the growing partnership between KFC and DeKUT and supports the wider ambition of positioning Nyeri as a destination for film, tourism, investment and creative enterprise. KFC is working with Nyeri County to strengthen the environment for filmmakers, including support around licenses, permits and waivers, while leveraging the county’s rich cultural, historical and natural heritage as a source of stories and film locations.
The DeKUT–KFC CineHub is therefore more than a new cinema facility. It is an investment in talent, infrastructure, audiences and opportunity bringing the tools to create and the platforms to showcase Kenyan stories closer to where talent lives.
From skills to screens, the next chapter of Kenya’s creative economy is taking shape in Nyeri.
