Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has once again clashed with Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) CEO Ezekiel Mutua over artist royalties.
The confrontation comes amid mounting pressure on MCSK over the distribution of royalties to Kenyan artists.
In an interview on Wednesday, February 21, Kuria minced no words, declaring that Kenya is no longer a nation of fools while condemning exploitation of Kenyan talents.
“You can tell that guy, Ezekiel Mutua, there are no more fools in this country. Questions are going to be asked, serious questions are going to be asked following due process. The time for misusing our artistes and talents is long gone,” Kuria said.
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Moses Kuria on promoting talent
Kuria highlighted the government’s efforts to support local talent but expressed dismay at apparent discrepancies in the management of royalties.
“We are doing a lot as government to support talents, are we doing this to support them on one hand and then some people just mess them up on the other hand? As a responsible government we won’t do it,” the CS stated.
Assuring swift action, Kuria further affirmed the government’s commitment to address the situation.
“Due process will take place and we are going to salvage our artistes from the yoke of those people who want to exploit them. They will get their rights. We have got amendments coming up in the Copyright Act and they are going to sort out this problem once and for all.”
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Kenya Copyright Board Questions Royalty Payout
Kuria’s remarks came after the Kenya Copyright Board‘s (KECOBO) invited the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to investigate the alleged discrepancies in royalty distribution among the Collective Management Organizations (CMOs).
KECOBO chairperson Joshua Kutuny disclosed concerns regarding the collective amount of Ksh249,687,212.80 collected in royalties by MCSK, Kenya Association of Music Producers (KAMP), and Performers Rights Society of Kenya (PRISK).
“While KAMP and PRISK declared a collection of Sh249 million and they accounted for Sh61 million and Sh52.7 million, respectively, MCSK however, on its part declared receipts of Sh109 million representing a shortfall of Sh26 million,” Kutuny said.
“All the Societies did not set aside royalties from collections in quarters two, three and four despite improved business environment. As per the Copyright (CMO) Regulations, the CMOs ought to have distributed at least Sh173 million or 70 per cent of that collection. This is clearly not the case here,” he said.
On his part, MCSK CEO Ezekiel Mutua refuted KECOBO’s claim that artists attached to the organizations deserved 70 per cent of all the monies collected.”
“Today KECOBO says we should have paid using something they are calling the 70% rule. Where exactly in the Copyright Act or any other law in Kenya does it talk of the 70% rule?” he posed.
