Kenya has signed a creative-economy partnership with British actor Sir Idris Elba's Akuna Group, in a deal Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'Oei says will open financing, technology and international markets to young Kenyan creators.

Sing'Oei signed the Statement of Intent with Elba on Tuesday, 3 November, on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM 2026) in Antigua and Barbuda, where President William Ruto is attending the summit.

"Our ambition is to connect Kenya's extraordinary creative talent to technology, investment and opportunities" across the Commonwealth, the PS said in a statement, adding that the goal was to turn creativity into "dignified work, scalable enterprise and national influence".

What the agreement covers

According to Sing'Oei, the document sets out a framework for cooperation between the government and Elba's company in several areas:

  • Financing for content creators, including models that let young people earn from their work.
  • Linking African talent with investors, technology partners and distribution platforms.
  • Responsible use of artificial intelligence, digital innovation and skills development.
  • Access to international markets for Kenyan films, music and digital content.

The PS said the partnership would feed into the government's Talanta Hela programme, which seeks to help young Kenyans monetise their creative and sporting talent, and places Kenya within the wider Commonwealth Creative Economy Partnership alongside Ghana, Sierra Leone and Barbados.

Elba to visit Nairobi

Sing'Oei said President Ruto has invited Elba to Kenya for the forthcoming Internet Governance Forum, where the full programme under the partnership is expected to be unveiled.

The signing follows a virtual meeting between the PS and the actor on 8 September, when Elba argued that African artists and creative entrepreneurs need practical tools, among them reliable payment systems, professional networks, creative education and access to emerging technologies, rather than inspiration alone. Sing'Oei told him then that Kenya was ready to act as a "continental anchor" for the Commonwealth creative push.

Elba, who has Sierra Leonean and Ghanaian roots, has in recent years shifted much of his energy to Africa through Akuna Group. In October the company announced a programme with Google and the online AI filmmaking school Curious Refuge to train African filmmakers in artificial intelligence tools, with production funding for selected projects and filmmakers retaining ownership of their work.

Why it matters for Kenyan creatives

Kenya's film, music and digital content sectors have grown rapidly on the back of TikTok, YouTube and streaming platforms, but creators routinely complain of weak payment infrastructure, piracy and limited access to financing. A partnership fronted by one of the world's best-known actors gives the government a high-profile vehicle for its creative-economy agenda, though details of how much money will flow, and when, have not been disclosed.

The deal was reported by Kenyans.co.ke and Mwakilishi, with the September meeting earlier covered by KBC and K24.

Photos: Korir Sing'Oei via Kenyans.co.ke; Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street via Wikimedia Commons (OGL 3). Thumbnail design: HAMASTA MEDIA.