Nakuru makes baby steps to revive dying creative industry

A group of artists rehearse in a makeshift theatre at Lake View Estate in Nakuru, keeping the spirit of performance alive. Despite being listed among UNESCO’s Creative Cities, Nakuru lacks a single functioning cinema hall, and the iconic Nakuru Players Theatre remains closed due to management challenges. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

The sounds from the vibrant ensemble blended with the rhythmic movements and poetic narrations as a group of artists polished their performance in a makeshift players’ theatre at Lake View estate in Nakuru.

But raindrops on the corrugated iron sheets seemed to drown their performance every few minutes. Just as one shower would cease, another would begin, washing over their aspirations for the day and deepening their woes.

The team, comprising artists from Kenya and Uganda, is polishing A journey through Africa, a performance they are supposed to stage in Lesotho in July this year.

“In this performance, we are pooling up efforts as artists to bring together different skills and talents to showcase integration in Africa,” Edward Kabuye, the director of the performance, said.

“This particular piece focuses on championing peace and advocating for the opening of borders for artists across the continent to freely move and showcase their work,” he added.

A few kilometres away, in the heart of the city, stands the Nakuru Players Theatre, a shadow of its former self: isolated and its fields overgrown with grass.

The gates are now under lock and key, and the artists cannot access the facility following a scuffle over alleged mismanagement. 

Being the only theatre within the county after the closure of the three cinema halls where artists used to stage their performances, they are now forced to work in isolation and makeshift ‘theatres’

While the Players Theatre is a private members’ club, Nakuru County has been allocating money towards the renovation of the hub in its efforts to revive the dying creative sector. 

In the 2023-2024 financial year, the county government allocated Sh17 million to revamp the theatre and construct a recording studio. The allocation also covered the renovation of the theatre’s infrastructure.

“Sadly, there are no facilities where artists can stage their shows within the county, yet this is an internationally recognized hub of creatives. Sadly again, we do not know how long the theatre will remain closed because of the issue is in court at the moment,” Jacob Endurance said.

In November 2023, UNESCO placed two cities, Nakuru and Port Louis in Mauritius to its list of Creative Cities Network. The two cities became the first in Eastern Africa to join the prestigious network following UNESCO’s recognition of their commitment to placing culture and creativity at the heart of their development.

The UNESCO Creative Cities Network promotes cooperation among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development. Under the UNESCO listing, Nakuru is placed under the Craft and Folklore category.

But artists from the neighbouring countries say that with Nakuru being a UNESCO creative city, it should put in place structures to support the creative industry, not only in Nakuru but regionally, following its inscription.

“East Africa is yet to generally appreciate the creative industry though it has huge potential. The artists within our continent are still struggling. More facilities should be put in place to support the industry,” Kabuye added.

Joseph Maina, the UNESCO Creative City contact person for Nakuru, said it takes a lot of work to have a city inscribed under the Creative Cities Network.

“It is a rigorous application process that traces the development of the city from earlier times,” Mr Maina said.

Maina said the pre-colonial planning of Nakuru town as an entertainment hub played a crucial role in the process.

A team of experts analysed the city’s rich history as an entertainment hub, exploring the three cinema halls of Odeon, Eros, and Empress. These halls are no longer active as they host religious institutions.

“Nakuru Players’ Theatre also played a major role in Nakuru City’s current inscription. Although it was a very tedious process, Nakuru was finally validated,” he added.

But has Nakuru City been able to live up to what it signed for almost two years down the line?

“The Kenyan constitution stipulates that any treaties that the government enters into with the UN become law,” Maina said.