The Music Associations Alliance of Kenya (MAAK) has demanded the immediate resignation of Ezekiel Mutua, the Chief Executive Officer of the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK), and all implicated directors over the misappropriation of royalties. Justus Ngemu, the Music Association boss, accused Mutua of enriching himself at the expense of Kenyan artists registered under collective management organizations (CMOs).
Ngemu’s statement expressed outrage over the alleged embezzlement of royalties, condemning the enrichment of CMO managers and directors while artists suffer in poverty. The Music Association echoed the Kenya Copyright Board’s (KECOBO) call for a thorough investigation into the matter by authorities such as the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
Demanding swift action, MAAK urged for the immediate resignation of Mutua and all implicated directors, emphasizing the urgency of the situation to safeguard the interests of Kenyan artists. Additionally, they called for the refund of stolen royalties as a form of restitution.
This development follows Mutua’s threat to take legal action against KECOBO over allegations of embezzlement of Ksh56 million in royalties collected in 2023. KECOBO Chairman Joshua Kutuny had accused MCSK of failing to account for the millions collected on behalf of Kenyan artists.
In response, Mutua dismissed Kutuny’s claims as unfounded allegations intended to malign MCSK’s reputation. He affirmed MCSK’s commitment to addressing the matter legally and refuted any wrongdoing on their part.
As the controversy unfolds, stakeholders in the music industry are closely monitoring the situation, with expectations for transparency, accountability, and justice to prevail in resolving the allegations of mismanagement and embezzlement of royalties.
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