Kenya Copyright Board chairman Joshua Kutuny has reached out to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to probe disparities in amounts collected by three Collective Management Organizations (CMOs),
In a statement on Wednesday, February 21, Kutuny said the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK), Kenya Association of Music Producers (KAMP) and Performers Rights Society of Kenya (PRISK) jointly collected a sum of Ksh 249,687,212.80 from January to December 2023 but the amounts declared by individual entities had disparities.
“There was a disparity in amounts declared by MCSK and those declared by KAMP and PRISK for 2023 joint collection. While KAMP and PRISK declared a collection of Ksh.249 million and they accounted for Kshs.61 million and Kshs.52.7 million, respectively, MCSK on its part declared receipts of Kshs.109 million representing a shortfall of Kshs.26 million,” said Kutuny.
The KECOBO chair went on to note that the royalties were paid only from quarter one of 2023 collections and all three societies did not set aside royalties from collections in quarters two, three, and four despite an improved business environment.
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According to Kutuny, KAMP accounted for Ksh 53 million. Of that amount, Ksh 5 million was distributed and a sum of Ksh 9 million royalty is pending distribution.
PRISK accounted for Ksh 60 million with a royalty distribution of Ksh 7 million with the sum of Ksh 3 million pending distribution.
MCSK on the other hand could not account for Ksh 56 million which comprises Ksh 26 million received from joint collection and Ksh 30 million from other CMOs abroad and Google Ireland.
“In view of the above, I directed that the matter be handed over to the Ethics and Anti- Corruption Commission (EACC) and Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for investigations. The letters to those two institutions the CEO have been prepared and dispatched,” Kutuny added.
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