Students from across Kenya will compete for a combined prize of Ksh 2.5 million at this year's Kenya Music Festival (KMF) national finals, scheduled to take place at Kibabii University in Bungoma County. Equity Bank, the major sponsor, has supported the festival with over Ksh 25 million over the past three years, including funding at sub-county and regional levels.

Equity Bank's Commitment

Peter Ndoro, Equity Bank's Head of Education, highlighted that the bank's partnership extends beyond funding to fostering responsible citizenship and positive societal change. The bank sponsors 14 competition categories at the nationals, including primary, secondary, Teacher Training Colleges, TVETs, and universities.

Performances will align with Equity's theme: Sustainable Transformation for a Resilient Future: Protecting Our Environment, Empowering Our Communities for Wealth Creation, complementing the festival's main theme focused on enhancing the creative economy through knowledge and artistic production.

Prize Structure

  • First place in each category: Ksh 100,000
  • Second place: Ksh 50,000
  • Third place: Ksh 30,000
  • Winning trainers also receive monetary awards ranging from Ksh 30,000 to Ksh 10,000

At the regional level, Equity sponsored 11 classes with Ksh 4.4 million awarded to winners and 88 trophies distributed out of 130 donated.

Linking Music and Sustainability

Equity Group Managing Director Dr. James Mwangi emphasized that the sponsorship aligns with the bank’s broader sustainability agenda. He noted that true wealth creation involves environmental stewardship and empowering communities for long-term growth.

Equity Bank's environmental initiatives include planting over 39.6 million trees, supporting clean energy solutions in schools and communities, and promoting climate-smart agriculture and green financing.

Dr. Mwangi framed the festival as more than a competition, describing it as a platform for nurturing national consciousness and inspiring learners to become ambassadors of sustainable transformation.

Future Plans

Peter Ndoro revealed ongoing discussions with the Ministry of Education on how to help talented young performers monetize their skills beyond the competition. Equity Bank aims to support learners in turning their artistic talents into viable livelihoods.