Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has denied officials from the Collective Management Organizations (CMO) police escort during their official duties despite a threat to their lives.
Appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Sports, Culture and Heritage on Thursday, September 28, Kindiki stated that there was a breakdown in the rules of engagement between the officials and the National Police Service (NPS).
What’s more, the collective management Organizations include the Kenya Association of Music Producers (KAMP), Performers’ Rights Society of Kenya (PRISK) and the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK).
The CMO requested CS Kindiki to approve the reinstatement of National Police Service (NPS) escort services while they collected royalties.
Moreover, Edward Sigei, the Executive Director of Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO), stated that the withdrawal of police had resulted to threats to life and safety of enforcement of copyright requirement by officers.
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Kindiki explanation
However, according to Kindiki, there were numerous complaints of extortion from members of the public during the collection of royalties and it was not clear who was responsible.
He also accused the officials of failing to present the arrested persons before court within the required timelines even after NPS made the arrests.
“There were activities preceding termination of the engagement between CMOs and NPS. There were numerous complaints of extortion from members of the public and it was not clear who was responsible for this.
“Until a time where an agreement and memorandum stipulating well defined roles of each team, the status quo remains,” Kindiki insisted.
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CMOs Plead for Security Detail
KAMP Chief Executive Officer Maurice Okoth pleaded with the CS to reinstate the police stating that it will enable them to perform their duties effectively.
Okoth revealed to the Committee that since the withdrawal of police reinforcement in 2021, their royalty collection has dropped drastically.
He explained that royalty collection had reduced by Ksh300 million from 2017 when they had the security detail to 2021 when the officers were withdrawn.
“During the period when we had active police involvement, our royalties’ collection figures were significantly higher. In 2017 we collected Ksh450 million as compared to 2021 where we collected Ksh150 million,” Okoth stated.
At the same time, MCSK CEO Ezekiel Mutua stated that rightful owners of music copyrights were not gaining anything because their music was being pirated. He explained that collaboration with the police would be a great fix to the problem.
Ezekiel Mutua on the Introduction of the Blank Tape Levy
Earlier on September 12, Mutua lauded the government for the implementation and introduction of the Blank Tape Levy, which is meant to help creatives generate more revenue.
He explained that the Blank Tape Levy is not a tax, but a small fee charged at the port of entry on any gadget that can be used for private copying. Moreover, he stated that the cost is catered for by those importing the gadgets.
“So far, this has been purely individual artists efforts. But the Blank Tape Levy to be charged on gadgets entering the country from outside will make a great contribution in alleviating the suffering of artists.
“It’s a fee charged at the port of entry on any gadget with capacity for private copying and it is meant to compensate creatives,” Mutua stated.
