Bungoma to build drama school

Bungoma County Governor Wycliffe Wangamati has said plans were underway to set up a talent academy in Bungoma in a bid to identify, nurture and harness the students’ talents saying the region has great potential in the drama and film industry.
He asked stakeholders in the education sectors to do more capacity building to harness the potential and talents among the learners in the country.
Speaking during the official opening of the drama and film festival Friday, Wangamati said the county government would allocate some funds in the next financial year which would go towards giving bursaries and scholarships to talented students.
He gave an example of Daniel Ndambuki aka Churchill, Walter Mong’are aka Nyambane and MP of Dagoretti South John Kiarie as people who were earning huge amounts from drama and encouraged the government to support this competence co-curriculum that is coming on board.
The governor assured participants and visitors of their security during the 60th edition of the drama and film festival at Kibabii University and Kibabii diploma teachers college.
“For this co-curriculum to work, the government needs to train more teachers to who will assist learners,” he said.
The Vice Chancellor Kibabii University Prof. Odeo Ipara said that although Kibabii University is only seven years old, it offers competitive programmes that were delivered through blended research and under a conducive Environment.
Prof. Ipara termed the 60th Edition of drama and film festival as being of high quality as much as it has diversity in content that mirrors the theme in various ways.
He observed that the message coming out and clear is that the society should change and pursue the moral values for the well-being and prosperity of the society.
He termed it as the necessary ingredients for the achievement of the big four agenda and urged the leaders to support young ones to ensure they grow their talents and benefit from them.
CEO of Kenya Film Classification Board Dr. Ezekiel Mutua said that drama and film festival is a platform that creates jobs, identifies and nurtures talents for our youths.
“We have collaborated with Kenya film festival to nurture talents at this incubation stage,” he said.
The CEO said that the richest people in the world today were in sports, entertainment, drama and media which have changed the perspective of life.
Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala urged Bungoma Governor to make Bungoma a 24hour economy and talk to the police to stop harassing area citizens.
He encouraged those who were recording and marketing the plays of young people to set aside a percentage for them which would enable them to stay in school and improve their academic performance.
By Tony Wafula/Maureen Imbayi