The Music Associations Alliance of Kenya (MAAK) has demanded the resignation of the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) boss Ezekiel Mutua and directors with immediate effect over the misappropriation of royalties.
In a press release dated February 22, 2024, the Music Association boss Justus Ngemu accused Mutua of enriching himself at the expense of Kenyan artistes registered under collective management organizations(CMOs).
"The rest of us continue to languish in abject poverty as CMO managers like Ezekiel Mutua and CMO directors continue to enrich themselves courtesy of our sweat and talents. Our hard-earned monies have been embezzled, wasted and stolen by the very people we trusted to protect us.," part of the statement read.
Further Ngemu echoed the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) request to involve authorities including DCI and EACC in a thorough investigation into the alleged embezzlement.
"We demand the resignation of the CEO of MCSK and all the Directors with immediate effect. We also wish to echo KECOBO’s request and call upon the DCI and indeed the EACC to move with speed and apprehend these criminals. Do not allow artists to continue suffering in the hands of the Ezekiel Mutuas of this world. Please save our music industry, " the Music Association stated.
Adding; "They should endeavour to refund the stolen royalties as they park and go."
This follows Mutua's threat to drag the leadership of the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) to court over allegations of embezzlement of Ksh56 million in royalties collected in 2023.
KECOBO chairman Joshua Kutuny had on Wednesday, February 21 told the media that MCSK had failed to account for the millions collected last year on behalf of Kenyan artistes.
But in a statement on Thursday, MCSK Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ezekiel Mutua dismissed Kutuny's claims as wild allegations meant to incite unsuspecting musicians against the entity.
Mutua said he had instructed MCSK lawyers to take legal action against KECOBO for misinformation.
"MCSK takes a very serious view of the wild allegations by KECOBO - which are clearly meant to incite unsuspecting members to think that they have been short-changed. The Board has instructed our lawyers to take up the matter and bring this deliberate misinformation to an end. We assure the culprits that we shall meet in soon," Mutua stated.
