The Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) chose to grant a CMO license to the Performing and Audio-Visual Rights Society of Kenya (PAVRISK), a decision that reeks of corruption and nepotism.
Under the dubious instructions of former CS Joe Mucheru, KECOBO Executive Director Edward Sigei orchestrated this absurdity, despite PAVRISK’s dismal track record of not distributing royalties to artists for two years.
CEO of PAVRISK Joseph Njagi just happens to be the first cousin of former ICT CS Joe Mucheru.
Is it any wonder that PAVRISK (formerly PRISK) gets the license despite their catastrophic failure to pay artists? This stinks of cronyism.
Artists are suffering due to mismanagement and corruption, and instead of rectifying this, KECOBO decides to pour salt into the wound.
Their laughable justification for cutting costs and increasing royalty distribution to artists is a cruel joke. Given their proven incompetence and corruption, how can we trust PAVRISK to manage royalties?
Artists aired their opinions on the new move, saying,
“Once you understand how much money is being collected and who is eating it with a big spoon, you will understand why royalties have always had issues trickling down to the creatives. Some people are eating from people’s talents silently,” Mugithi singer Waweru explained.
“Now it all makes sense. I always wondered where the CEO came from and why he was operating with so much impunity despite members disagreeing with the decisions. “It’s interesting,” Nonini Mgenge wrote on X.