Ruto shares details of his planned meeting with Grammys President Panos Panay
By Steve Ireri, May 3, 2026President William Ruto has outlined details of an upcoming meeting with Recording Academy president Panos Panay, as Kenya moves to position itself in the global creative and entertainment space.
Speaking when he attended the 14th edition of the Kalasha International Film and TV Awards held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Ruto said the engagement, scheduled for later this month, will mark a key step in discussions aimed at establishing a globally recognised African creative platform, with Kenya seeking to play a leading role in the initiative.
He noted that four countries had initially expressed interest in hosting or supporting the proposed platform, but said Kenya was the only one that stepped forward and met the financial requirements tied to the bid process.
“I will be meeting Panos Panay, President of the Recording Academy, the organisation behind the world-acclaimed Grammy Awards, and later this month we will be meeting to begin the journey of positioning Africa, and Kenya in particular, for its own globally recognised creative platform,” the president said.
The President indicated that the meeting, which he described as highly consequential, will not only focus on the possibility of bringing an African version of the Grammys to Nairobi, but also on creating structured pathways for African creatives to access global markets.
Ruto said the goal is to move beyond international visibility for artists and instead ensure they are able to earn, scale their work, and compete effectively within the global creative economy.
“You remember that four countries bid for that position and it’s only Kenya that stepped up and paid the money that was required, and on the 26th of this month I will be having that most consequential meeting,” he added.
He further emphasised that the discussions will focus on transitioning Africa’s creative industry from a showcase model to a fully structured commercial ecosystem capable of generating sustainable income for artists and industry players.
“In that meeting, I will not just be pushing for the African Grammys to come to Nairobi, I will also be advocating for a structured pathway that connects our creative products to global commerce. It is no longer enough for our artistes to be seen internationally — they must earn, scale up and compete at that level. This is about moving from showcasing talent to building an industry,” Ruto shared.
The Recording Academy, led by Panos Panay, is the organisation behind the globally recognised Grammy Awards, which celebrate excellence in the music industry.