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MCSK turns heat on KECOBO, wants its boss removed over 1m bribe claims

By Sinda Matiko January 13th, 2023 2 min read

It’s getting uglier. Just moments after the government, through its arm Kenya Copyrights of Board (KECOBO) stopped the Music Society of Kenya (MCSK) from collecting royalties on behalf of 15,000 artistes, the collective management organization (CMO) has filed a complaint against the board.

On Thursday, KECOBO, through its Executive Director Edward Sigei, declined to renew MCSK’s license for 2023, citing a number of reasons that the CMO did not meet to warrant a renewal of its operational license for the new year.

Some of the issues cited included failure to provide a list of beneficiaries and amounts paid in royalties for 2022, audited financial statements for the period up to June 2022 and failure to provide an authenticated list of members.

But in a rebuttal, MCSK wants Sigei removed from office for abuse of power and allegation of soliciting bribes from the CMO.

Also read: Government stops MCSK from collecting music royalties

In documents obtained by Nairobi News dated January 11th, 2022, MCSK, through its Chief Executive Officer MCSK, Dr. Ezekiel Mutua, has filed complaints to the office of the Ombudsman (Commission on Administrative justice).

Addressed to Ms. Mercy Kalondu Wambua, the Commission Secretary and CEO, is petitioning the removal of Sigei on the grounds of injustices and abuse of office towards the music industry.

“MCSK hereby presents a petition to your office on behalf of its over 15,000 copyright holders/assignors for the removal of Mr Edward Sigei as the Executive Director of Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO).”
The CMO says it has always done its due diligence to cooperate with KECOBO as the regulator of CMOS but has always encountered frustration from the board.

“While MCSK has done everything to comply with the law and serve its members effectively, it has faced numerous frustrations from the regulator, particularly the person of Mr Edward Sigei, who appears conflicted and hell-bent on killing the music industry.

Also read: MCSK explains why some Kenyan musicians are not getting their royalties

These frustrations have been executed and manifested by Mr. Sigei through denial of issuance of a CMO license to MCSK, draconian and unilateral conditions for issuance of a CMO license, solicitation of bribes and arbitrary/unfair actions by revocation of a CMO license without following the laid down due procedures.” Mutua says in the letter.

MCSK says Mr. Sigei has worked at KECOBO for 10 years and believes his continued stay as the board’s Executive Director will only worsen the situation in the Kenyan creative industry.

In its many allegations, the MCSK claims Mr. Sigei has been seeking relentlessly to be a signatory to accounts operated under a tripartite arrangement between itself and other two CMOs, Performers Rights Society of Kenya (PRISK) and Kenya Associations of Music Producers (KAMP).

MCSK also alleged that Mr Sigei demanded a bribe of over Sh1 million from its board of directors.

“Bribes have often been demanded as a precondition for approval/support. In this regard, the chairman of MCSK is privy to a demand for Sh1 million shillings made to him and other directors. Other sums have been received through a Mr Njagi initially meant for administrative cost but which cannot be accounted for at Mr Sigei’s behest,” Mutua claims.

Also read: Ezekiel Mutua responds to Nonini’s termination his MCSK membership