Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) CEO Ezekiel Mutua has asked the government to collect money from matatus, and media organizations playing Kenyan music.
The MCSK CEO was commenting on the recent debate surrounding distribution of money collected as royalties to musicians and proposals to shift collections to the E-Citizen platform.
According to Mutua, collecting royalties from Kenyan musicians through eCitizen would be a form of ignorance, especially when they were not compensated by Matatus and media for their copyrighted work.
Mutua argued that the government ought to create an enabling environment for creatives through policies and sensitize the public on respecting intellectual property.
“Hollywood was not built by the Government. It was built by the private sector. The work of the Government is to create an enabling environment through policy, fight piracy, provide enforcement and sensitize the public on the need to respect Intellectual property.
“Billions of musicians money is out there with the Matatu industry, broadcasters and other users of copyrighted musical works. Some users including KBC and other broadcasters owe CMOs over 1.4B. The public transport sector has not complied since 2019. Enforcement is a government function,” he said.
Mutua further opined that many Kenyan musicians would be billionaires if the government policies that were already in place are implemented, allowing the artists to earn their royalties.
“If Government provided enforcement in line with Article 40 of the constitution, some of our artists would become billionaires overnight through royalty payments. But when the Government doesn’t provide support, CMOs rely on courts to enforce compliance hence most of the money goes to litigation,” he explained.
Also Read: Ezekiel Mutua Slapped with Demand Letter After Arguing with Nonini
Mutua Goes After Ababu Namwamba on Tax
Mutua also hit out at Sports Cabinet secretary Ababu Namwamba for supporting the move to use E-Citizen arguing that music was a talent just like athletics and football.
Additionally, he questioned why the other kinds of sports were not taxed through eCitizen.
“When a Cabinet Secretary says that Government will collect royalties for artists through e-Citizen, it’s the highest level of ignorance. Music is talent like football or athletics.
“Does Government collect the pay of footballers or athletes through e-Citizen? Music is a private right, and the Government can only get the taxes accruing from payment of royalties, but it cannot purport to administer copyright on behalf of musicians,” added Mutua.
Also Read: Ezekiel Mutua Defends Mali Safi Hitmaker After Uproar
Mutua and Nonini Argument
Earlier on February 6, a dispute between Mutua and veteran musician Nonini arose after the musician shared a letter revealing purported mismanagement of royalties by MCSK.
However, Mutua denied the statement’s accuracy and urged those questioning MCSK’s spending to submit the document to the Director of Criminal Investigation (DCI) office and record a statement.
Mutua claimed that the document shared by Nonini had been taken from MUPAKE accounts of 2017-2019 and manipulated to create a false narrative.
The MCSK CEO stated, “If the document is authentic, take it to the DCI office and record a statement.”
