Kenya Partners with Idris Elba's Akuna Group to Scale Creative Economy

Kenya has signed an agreement with British actor Idris Elba's firm, the Akuna Group, to expand funding and artificial intelligence training for young creative workers.

Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei signed the Statement of Intent with Elba on Tuesday, November 3, during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda.

The deal directly targets the government's Talanta Hela programme. It aims to help young Kenyan creatives commercialise their work through international market access, reliable payment systems, and technology investments.

Beyond financial backing, the pact creates a framework for cooperation in digital innovation, skill development, and artificial intelligence. The move aligns with an ongoing initiative by the Akuna Group, in partnership with Google and Curious Refuge, to train African filmmakers in AI tools.

Elba announced the AI filmmaking and mentorship scheme in October. Under the programme, selected creative projects receive production funding while the filmmakers retain full ownership of their work.

Sing’Oei noted that the partnership places Kenya alongside Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Barbados under the broader Commonwealth Creative Economy Partnership.

"Our ambition is to connect Kenya’s extraordinary creative talent to technology, investment and opportunities across the Commonwealth, turning creativity into dignified work, scalable enterprise and national influence," Sing’Oei said.

The agreement follows a virtual meeting in September between Sing’Oei and Elba. During those discussions, the actor emphasized that African artists require practical support, professional networks, and modern payment infrastructure to succeed globally.

President William Ruto has invited Elba to Kenya for the upcoming Internet Governance Forum, where the full partnership programme will be officially launched.