Marakwet Daughter Mali Safi Chito is among Kenyan artists paid over Ksh 100,000 in MCSK royalties distribution for the first quarter of 2024.
Other artists with royalties above Ksh 100,000 include Reuben Kigame, Otile Brown, Samido, and Nyashinski.
The amounts are an improvement from previous earnings, where popular artists revealed that they received as low as Ksh 1,000 from the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) for their hard work.
Renowned musicians like Akothee, Bien of Sauti Sol, and Khaligragh Jones have previously posted extremely low earnings they received from MCSK on social media, exposing the ailing creative industry in terms of royalties.
At a past event, MCSK CEO Ezekiel Mutua stated that being a successful artist in developed countries like the US was a direct ticket to becoming a millionaire but that is not the case, promising to make things better.
This Mali Safi Chito hit song by Marakwet Daughter was on top at the #MCSKRoyaltiesDistribution. Even Dr @EzekielMutua was thrilled. pic.twitter.com/pyH0w4qFEo
— Geoffrey Moturi – Kawangware Finest ™ (@cbs_ke) January 25, 2024
On January 14, he announced that KSh 20 million would be disbursed to 16,000 members of the music body today, adding that the funds were supposed to be released on December 12, 2023.
“We were supposed to do this on Jamhuri Day but we had other engagements. The Cabinet Secretary told us to have structures and on January 25, we will disburse millions of shillings,” he noted.
Mutua was appointed the CEO of MCSK in March 2022 and was previously the CEO of the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB).
The plights of creatives in Kenya
Kenyans in the creative industry, including music and film, have in the past called out the government for not earning much in royalties from their work, claiming that those in charge of organisations like KFCB and MCSK are the ones who benefit from their hard work.
In 2023, the talented actress Sanaipei Tande called out the government after it failed to disburse money promised to winners of the Kalasha Awards.
Youth Affairs, Arts, and Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba later announced that Tande’s Ksh 200,000 had been released, as well as monies for other winners.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs, Arts and Sports on December 31, 2023, released Ksh7.8 million for the 12th edition of the Kalasha International Film and TV Awards winners, where each winner was awarded Ksh200,000.
Kenyans have seen veteran actors like Mzee Ojwang’ of the popular Vitimbi programme on KBC die in abject poverty, calling for the government to do better in ensuring creatives earn better.
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