The Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) plans to sue former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. This follows his claims that MCSK is not honest in how it manages money meant for musicians. Gachagua believes that MCSK collects large sums from businesses and other users of music but gives only a small share to artists.
MCSK, however, says Gachagua’s remarks are false and damaging to its reputation. The organization claims it has been working hard to ensure musicians are paid fairly and that his public statements have caused many people to lose trust in its operations. That is why MCSK wants the court to stop him from making such claims again.
The main issue is how much money musicians actually receive. For years, many Kenyan artists have complained that their royalties are too low. They argue that although MCSK collects millions of shillings, the amount paid to individual musicians is very small.
In early 2024, MCSK announced that it had distributed over Ksh 20 million to musicians. However, several artists reported receiving as little as KSh2,500. This raised serious concerns about how the rest of the money was spent and whether the distribution was fair.
The government has shown interest in improving transparency in the music industry. Gachagua has supported efforts to introduce a new system that allows artists to receive their earnings directly and without unnecessary deductions.
The conflict between MCSK and the former Deputy President has now turned into a legal battle. MCSK wants to defend its name in court, while Gachagua continues to push for reforms that benefit artists.
The outcome of this case could bring major changes to how royalties are collected and shared in Kenya’s music industry.
By Newshub