The Head of Special Projects in the President’s office, Dennis Itumbi, has clarified the government’s position on the controversial subject of the Grammys.
He was speaking in a recent roundtable discussion that featured creatives such as Timothy Ndegwa (Njugush) and Cleophas Malala, Kennedy Odhiambo (Crazy Kennar) and plawright and producer Gathoni Kimuyu.
While countering an argument made by Cleophas Malala, Mr Itumbi said that the Kenya Kwanza government had not made a donation to the Recording Academy, the body responsible for the Grammy Awards in the USA.
“There was, absolutely, no donation made by the Kenyan government to the Grammy Awards,” he said. “The Kenyan government, Nigeria, Rwanda and South Africa lobbied to have the Recording Academy headquarters in Africa, and Kenya, like all the other four countries, bid.”
He was referring to the Recording Academy’s mission to expand its presence in countries across Africa and the Middle East.
The organisation had announced this decision in June 2024 after it embarked on a mission in 2023 to meet music creators and learn more about the music scenes from around the world.
Academy CEO, Harvey Mason Jr, explained at the time that the initiative was a way for the 67-year-old institution to change.
“The way music has been going, the way that the world is going, it’s becoming smaller, technology is allowing us to do more, and we’re seeing these really thriving, vibrant music scenes maturing and developing all around the world, and the music ecosystem has just evolved. It’s just changed,” he said.
While explaining the bidding process, Mr Itumbi said the institution would return the money should Kenya lose the bid, clarifying that it was not a donation but part of the bidding process.
“Part of the bid is to pay KSh. 500M and the bid has not yet been decided,” he said. “On February 27 and 28, there were delegations to Los Angeles office of the Recording Academy. If we lose the bid, of course, the money is returned.”
Kenya’s bid for the Grammys first made headlines in 2024 when President William Ruto made the revelation at a town hall meeting at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) to commemorate the Hustler’s second anniversary.
The event was intended to emphasise his administration’s commitment to strengthening Kenya’s creative industry and positioning the country as a global entertainment hub.
“We have already paid the Ksh. 500 million. This is not something we are planning to do; it’s already done,” President Ruto said at the time, referring to Kenya’s bid. “I’m confident that the gentleman here from the Grammys can confirm that we’re on the right track to securing Kenya’s position in this exciting initiative.”