Head of Presidential Special Projects and Creative Economy, Dennis Itumbi, used a second of hostility to announce that he has supplied a job to a pal and confederate of KK Mwenyewe in the course of the late comic’s funeral in Githirioni village, Limuru.
The funeral on Wednesday, July 23, drew scores of mourners who got here to bid farewell to KK Mwenyewe, the comic finest recognized for his humorous impersonations of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. He handed away whereas receiving remedy at Kiambu Level 5 Hospital final week.
Itumbi, whereas paying tribute to the late comic, introduced that fellow content material creator and shut pal of KK, comic Kafengo, would quickly be supplied a job alternative aimed toward supporting and strengthening Kenya’s digital content material creation panorama.
“Kafengo was working with KK Mwenyewe. Many folks on-line have advised me that we are able to work with Kafengo. I’ll work with him and provides him a job in order that he helps us tackle digital content material creation issues,” he mentioned amid claps from a bit of mourners.
“That’s not only a story; he’ll get a job beginning Monday.”
Before the announcement, Itumbi confronted a chilly reception from mourners regardless of his efforts to pay tribute and communicate on authorities interventions within the digital economic system house, with sections of mourners interrupting his speech with chants of “wantam” and “uongo.”
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Itumbi speaks on Facebook monetization
Having been concerned within the planning and fundraising efforts for the funeral, he had simply begun explaining how creatives in Kenya can search redress if their Facebook pages haven’t but been monetized.
“All these issues which were mentioned right here, which the federal government ought to do about content material creators, I’m the one in cost. The problem confronted by these content material creators is incomes cash by the content material that they share,” Itumbi mentioned.
“The very first thing is monetization, which has been enabled on all platforms besides TikTok. We are nonetheless in talks with them to allow monetization in Kenya. Since this regime took workplace, Facebook authorized monetization for Kenyan creators and is now paying for content material shared,” he added earlier than being met with jeers from a bit of mourners who chanted “wantam” and “uongo” accusing him of mendacity.
Itumbi, in response, whereas attempting to carry floor, mentioned, “I don’t assume these content material creators have “wantam.” Content creation is a life-style.”
He then inspired any creator whose Facebook web page is but to be monetized to ship an attraction to the e-mail tackle [email protected], promising that the federal government would comply with up to make sure monetization is activated.
Heckling throughout KK Mwenyewe’s funeral
But the stress within the crowd escalated when Itumbi spoke of broader authorities interventions, together with the suggestion for creatives to kind monetary cooperatives.
“You must create your personal SACCO, which we’ll assist to make sure you have cash,” he mentioned, urging creators to arrange themselves into sustainable monetary items.
One mourner, nevertheless, shouted “Uongo!” in protest, prompting Itumbi to push again.
Despite the heckling, he accomplished a part of his message earlier than his speech was abruptly lower brief.
“It is our responsibility to make sure content material creators earn their cash. You can shout all you need, however these content material creators want cash of their pockets. We will guarantee cash will get to their pockets,” he responded.
Ahead of the burial, Itumbi had taken an energetic position in mobilizing assets, revealing earlier within the week that contributions had surpassed the Ksh1.2 million goal for funeral bills.
During a fundraiser held at Blue Springs Hotel, he introduced a number of high-profile donations, together with a Ksh1 million contribution from President William Ruto.
