Artists and creative enterprises across Kenya will now have expanded access to financing through a new industry partnership.
Unveiled at the NCBA Creative Economy Summit, held alongside the Elev8 LIVE album launch in Nairobi, the collaboration between NCBA Bank and HEVA Fund introduces five tailored financial products: event financing, invoice discounting, LPO financing, working capital support and start-up incubator financing.
The products are designed to help creatives fund production, equipment, marketing, touring, digital distribution and other operational needs.
The move comes amid growing calls from local artists for financial structures that reflect the realities of creative work. The sector has long struggled with informality, making it difficult for many creatives to access bank loans or attract investors.
“Financial institutions tend to engage with structured traditional forms of financial access. However, most creative artists and enterprises operate independently and are not affiliated with cooperatives or formally recognized businesses. This is why they remain unseen by financial institutions and investors,” said NCBA Bank MD John Gachora.
Under the agreement, NCBA and HEVA will jointly assess and finance businesses through a shared-risk model, matching capital on a 50:50 basis—an approach expected to lower barriers for creatives who often fall outside traditional lending frameworks.
HEVA Fund noted that demand for structured financing has risen in recent years as more young people enter the industry and global productions show growing interest in Kenya’s creative landscape.
Elev8 LIVE founder and music producer Motif Di Don added that many emerging artists struggle to transition from raw talent to sustainable careers due to limited financial support, with access to capital remaining a major hurdle.
Kenya’s creative economy contributes an estimated 5.3% to the country’s GDP and employs more than 300,000 people, yet access to credit remains one of its biggest challenges.