On November 1, Machakos governor Alfred Mutua, while launching this year's Machakos Festival, also known as Macha Fest, at Machakos people's park waived charges for shooting films in Machakos county.
The governor said his country will not charge any fee for films and music videos shot within Machakos county. He said his county government was waiving charges for shooting films so as to attract film makers and sell the country as a tourist destination but what he did not know is that the announcement proved his love for art and support for Machakos artists.
Since he launched Machahood, many have ctitisized him as a governor who likes media attention. They said he was just using Machahood as a political vehicle to get the votes from the youths and then dump them. No wonder when Machahood did not kick off as expected, many heaped tonnes and tonnes of abuses that him.
They accused him of taking advantage of the vulnerability of the youths to get ahead in politics. But on November 1, Mutua proved all his critics wrong. By waiving charges of shooting films and music videos he has proved beyond reasonable doubt that he cares for the artists.
There is nothing as expensive as shooting a movie and who knows that best if not him (he has been involved in several film productions) and the artists themselves? The much acclaimed Holywood movie "Queen of Katwe" that was shot in a slum in Kampala, Uganda, was rumored to have costed Sh2.25 Billion, the figure including cost of production and marketing (promotion).
By taking easing where it hurts most, Mutua has given Machakos artists a breath of fresh air. Artists can now explore the beautiful scenery of Machakos county without worrying about paying some fee or getting a permit which is usually very expensive.
It might seem like a slight gesture but Mutua has promoted art in a huge way. Kudos governor.