NCBA Elev8: Building the Financial Engine that Will Power Kenya’s Creative Future
Kenya’s creative economy is no longer a side conversation; it is a national growth frontier.
Contributing 5% to the country’s GDP and sustaining over 300,000 creative livelihoods, the industry has become one of the most dynamic forces shaping Kenya’s identity in music, film, fashion, gaming, and digital culture.
At the Creative Economy Summit, hosted alongside NCBA Elev8, the message was clear: the sector is ready for its next leap, and that leap depends on structure, opportunity, and access to finance.
A Generation Redefining Kenya’s Cultural Identity
Across the country, a new wave of creators is steering Kenya’s sound, style, and storytelling.
From chart-topping musicians to award-winning filmmakers, fashion innovators, animators, and online personalities, this generation is building a cultural legacy that resonates far beyond borders.
The Creative Economy Summit celebrated these innovators, not just for inspiring audiences, but for moving the nation’s social and economic fabric. The gathering also created pathways to ensure that a creator’s craft can evolve into long-term income, stability, and legacy.
Because every creative, regardless of where they begin, deserves a system that believes in them.
Building the System Creatives Have Always Needed
Through Elev8, NCBA is working to provide that system one that combines:
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Access to capital
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Financial literacy and coaching
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Mental wellness support
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Mentorship and industry tools
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Platforms that transform talent into opportunity
This structure is essential. Many artists rise creatively but fall financially, not due to lack of potential, but due to systems that never understood their realities. NCBA’s mission is to change that through a holistic model of financial wellness and industry support.
At the Fireside Chat, experts unpacked how creatives can earn, save, invest, and grow with products tailored to the real rhythm of a creative career, one often defined by irregular income and project-based earnings.
“Creativity thrives when financial systems support it,” speakers noted. “We’re building that system one creator, one portfolio, one empowered community at a time.”
Voices from the Summit: Truths Every Creative Needs to Hear
The summit was rich with unfiltered insight from industry leaders and creators who have walked the journey. Among the most powerful were:
Queen Gathoni
“Planning and understanding how you operate is essential. Collaborating with others also lightens the load and makes the journey easier.”
“Entertainment has its highs and lows. Allow the bad days to happen, but never give up. Resilience is part of the journey.”
“When brands like NCBA support the creative economy, it lifts the entire industry. Your voice and your presence make the impact real.”
Maandy Kabaya
“In this creative journey, authenticity shines the brightest. When you’re true to yourself, people will notice. Regular breaks are essential for maintaining that authenticity.”
“NCBA is a game-changer! Whether you’re a budding artist or an established one, every creative deserves equal opportunity. It’s about motivation and growth for all.”
“I’ve learned to avoid scrolling through comments. Staying grounded and focused on my path has been crucial. Consistency is key!”
Fakii Liwali
“Challenge each other to think long term. It’s not just about one project; it’s about building a sustainable future. Let’s keep each other accountable!”
Reuben Odanga
“We need more exhibition centers. More stages. More spaces where Kenyan stories can shine.”
He also challenged creators to use the internet boldly, collaborate widely and show up with excellence, even where infrastructure is still growing.
Motif Di Don
“Great music doesn’t blow up by luck; it blows up because of great marketing.”
He urged the industry to put heart and resources behind their craft because success follows creators who dare.
Scaling Kenya’s Multi-Billion-Shilling Creative Industry
A high-energy panel led by Ambassador Ted Kwaka brought together Linda Muriithi, Motif Di Don and Reuben Odanga to explore how Kenya can scale its KES 2B+ creative industry. Their insights landed on one core truth: creativity is powerful, but it needs financing to grow.
Pamela Mutembei
“Stay ready for opportunity.”
She emphasized the importance of formalising creative businesses, treating them as monetizable entities, and seeking expert guidance to scale.
Paul Gicheru
“We’re learning and unlearning so we can build solutions that truly fit creatives.”
He addressed money behaviours, financial discipline, and the need to separate personal and business income, essential steps for long-term security.
The Fireside Chat closed with a powerful exchange led by Nelly Wainaina, NCBA Group Director, Marketing, Communications, and Citizenship, together with Dennis Njau, Paul Gicheru, and Pamela Mutembei, that centered on creativity, capital, and the future of financial wellness.
In her leadership role, Wainaina has been central in positioning NCBA as a bank committed to youth, culture, inclusion, and creative-economy empowerment.
NCBA Elev8: Building the Financial Engine that Will Power Kenya’s Creative Future
NCBA × HEVA: The Financial Breakthrough Creatives Have Been Waiting For
For decades, the biggest barrier for creatives has been access to finance. NCBA and HEVA Fund have now partnered to break that barrier by launching bespoke credit solutions tailored to the realities of the creative economy.
The partnership unveiled five financing products built for creators with irregular income cycles and ambitious project needs:
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Event Financing
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LPO Financing
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Working Capital Facilities
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Invoice Discounting
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Start-up Incubator Financing
This is a 50:50 shared-risk model, meaning creatives finally have a financing system designed around how they actually earn.
Flexible. Tiered. Built for creatives.
It is a rare moment where artistry, hustle, and capital meet.
The Future: Creativity Moves Culture, Now It Moves Capital Too
NCBA’s Elev8 platform signals a historic shift in how financial institutions view talent. The bank is shaping a future where creative expression is not just celebrated, but funded, structured, and positioned to scale.
Kenya’s creative economy has the potential to grow exponentially, and with the right systems, it will.
Creativity scales when capital steps in
Through Elev8 and its partnerships, NCBA is helping Kenya’s creators turn passion into enterprise, ideas into income, and talent into legacy.
