Blankets & Wine, the long-standing live music and cultural festival that has become a fixture in Kenya’s creative economy, is embarking on a strategic overhaul of its venue design, coinciding with its 17th-anniversary celebration. The move is aimed at enhancing the attendee experience and regaining public confidence following reports of issues at its September event.
The festival’s organizing body, Good Times Africa, used an internal team gathering this past weekend to reflect on 17 years of growth and “rejuvenate for the task ahead,” according to a press release issued Monday. The team’s immediate focus is the upcoming “Kenyan Summer” edition slated for December 21st.
Architectural Redesign for User Experience
In a significant operational reform, the festival has hired an independent architectural team to completely reimagine the layout of its venue, Laureate Gardens, Kasarani, ahead of the December event.
“We brought in an independent architectural team last week to review the venue from a user-experience perspective,” said Brand Manager Michelle Njeri. “Their mandate is simple: redesign flow, ease crowd movement, and ensure the festival layout reflects the scale and ambition of Kenyan Summer 2025.”
The engagement of external design expertise underscores the organizers’ stated commitment to quality and is a direct response to logistical challenges highlighted by attendees in the past. Head of Festivals, Justine Mbugua, emphasized the organization’s ethos: “Our 17-year history is a story of love and learning… it’s necessary to develop the live music sector and circulate the economy.”
A 17-Year Legacy and Economic Impact
Founded on November 8, 2008, Blankets & Wine has evolved from a boutique Sunday picnic event into a cornerstone of Kenya’s live music ecosystem, shaping the regional creative calendar and providing a shared cultural space for artists, fans, and corporate brands.
Muthoni Ndonga, Founder of Blankets & Wine, credited the longevity to her staff’s dedication. “The team’s enduring commitment has been the magic of making it to 17,” Ndonga stated, adding that the passion of the team is essential, as “No two editions of the festival are the same.”
Addressing Past Challenges and Financial Commitments
The announcement comes after reports and public discussion concerning the festival’s September edition. While organizers have reiterated they have “no case to answer” and confirmed that they have received no formal legal complaints from any authority, they acknowledged public concerns.
Communications Manager Diane Ywaya stressed the organization’s proactive stance: “When fans raise an issue, we investigate it thoroughly, identify what went wrong, and fix it. That’s how we continue to grow with our community.”
Crucially, the team also highlighted that the refund process for drinks and duplicate mobile payments is still in progress. They attributed the delay to a “detailed validation effort with finance and vendor teams,” and reiterated their commitment to transparency and addressing all genuine complaints.
“Our internal audit helped us refine not just systems, but also our relationship with audiences,” Njeri concluded. “We’ve listened, learned, and applied those lessons to build a better experience for everyone.”
Despite the operational headwinds from the previous event, fan enthusiasm remains high, with significant social media speculation surrounding the imminent artist lineup announcement for the December 21st edition.
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