Mombasa creatives demand a real seat in youth and creative-economy policy
Key points
- Mombasa youth artists and organisations want direct input into creative-economy policies.
- Forum held ahead of International Youth Day on 12 August 2026; theme “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations”.
- Main challenges: limited employment and business opportunities in music, poetry, film and related crafts.
- Rajab Salim (Baraza Media Lab) and Esha Mohammed (Swahili Pot) said recommendations will go to the creative-economy ministry and national leaders.
Coast creatives say Nairobi policy rooms still design programmes that ignore Mombasa’s stage, studio and street. Young artists and civil-society groups in Mombasa used a pre–International Youth Day forum to demand a seat at the policy table, Eastleigh Voice reported.
The gathering brought artists, youth organisations, civil society and government representatives ahead of Youth Day on 12 August 2026, under the theme “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations.” Participants flagged scarce jobs and business chances for people trying to live off music, poetry, film and other creative work, and said national programmes often miss Coast realities. Rajab Salim of Baraza Media Lab said organisers would compile issues and present them through the ministry responsible for the creative economy and to national leaders so Mombasa voices appear in policy talks. “Government has a role, organisations have a role, and young people and artists themselves also have a role,” he said. Esha Mohammed of Swahili Pot argued national government must recognise Coast artists when writing rules for the sector — not only launch events in the capital.
Policy without gigs is another Youth Day poster
Creative-economy strategies that skip county procurement, venue licensing and copyright enforcement leave talent on Instagram. Tables of recommendations only matter if the ministry calendars public replies.
Kenya-news desk: Kenya News. Verified forum, theme and speakers from Eastleigh Voice.
The creative ministry should publish a 30-day response to the Mombasa memo. County should ring-fence a youth arts procurement share for local events.
Without that, Coast creatives will keep exporting talent and importing policy they never wrote.
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Based on Eastleigh Voice reporting of the Mombasa youth forum. Policy uptake depends on ministry follow-up.
