A letter to Uhuru Kenyatta the President of the Republic of Kenya as received by the Office of the President on 4th December 2015
10 December 2015
To His Excellency Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta, CGH,
President of the Republic of Kenya,
Harambee House, Nairobi.
1 December 2015,
Dear Mr. President,
RE: STATE OF THE MULTI - BILLION MUSIC INDUSTRY
The music industry is a multi-billion industry employing more than 100, 000 youth who work as musicians, dancers, models, deejays, bouncers, radio presenters, television presenters, producers, promoters, fashion designers, Graphics designers, music bloggers, scripters, video directors and editors. It is an industry that has been neglected by previous governments even after posting steady growth both in content and opportunities and I must take this opportunity to first comment and thank you for making some equipment’s that support this industry tax free. I had previously tried to get in touch with you on Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, SMS and even tried to call but did not get any feedback so I decided to use a more structured channel to engage you and other relevant government agencies who have a direct or indirect role in streamlining the music industry to make it at least productive. I hereby by wish to bring a few points to your attention Mr. president
1. Piracy is a major challenge for the industry. It pains me to see people who are not musicians change huge cars as they wish, build mansions and even have their holidays in Las Vegas with money made from music while the real musician receives peanuts or nothing at all. It even pains me more to see how our senior and old musicians have to struggle to make ends meet, stifle to feed their families or even die poor while they used to be famous in their days. No Mr. President, we need to be assured of our social security. I hereby request that you declare piracy a national disaster and initiate the discussion with the Inspector General of Police to create a full police unit committed to fight piracy and with the Chief Justice to create a special court in the judiciary committed to prosecute and enforce on matters of copyright. Mr. President, there is also an urgent need that Parliament enacts laws that will govern this industry for the ones that exist are either so weak or outdated. Your government has to assure investors who have invested and those who wish to invest in the music industry that their money is safe and will be protected by the law, so that they can invest more. It is also important if the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology made subjects on creative arts and intellectual property compulsory and examinable in all institutions of basic education. The bible says that people perish for lack of knowledge. Gone are the days that a child was cursed and beaten like a donkey for not getting a white color job but making a choice to do music. This industry must be able to pay, and it can only pay if the money it makes enters the right pockets.
President of the Republic of Kenya,
Harambee House, Nairobi.
1 December 2015,
Dear Mr. President,
RE: STATE OF THE MULTI - BILLION MUSIC INDUSTRY
The music industry is a multi-billion industry employing more than 100, 000 youth who work as musicians, dancers, models, deejays, bouncers, radio presenters, television presenters, producers, promoters, fashion designers, Graphics designers, music bloggers, scripters, video directors and editors. It is an industry that has been neglected by previous governments even after posting steady growth both in content and opportunities and I must take this opportunity to first comment and thank you for making some equipment’s that support this industry tax free. I had previously tried to get in touch with you on Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, SMS and even tried to call but did not get any feedback so I decided to use a more structured channel to engage you and other relevant government agencies who have a direct or indirect role in streamlining the music industry to make it at least productive. I hereby by wish to bring a few points to your attention Mr. president
1. Piracy is a major challenge for the industry. It pains me to see people who are not musicians change huge cars as they wish, build mansions and even have their holidays in Las Vegas with money made from music while the real musician receives peanuts or nothing at all. It even pains me more to see how our senior and old musicians have to struggle to make ends meet, stifle to feed their families or even die poor while they used to be famous in their days. No Mr. President, we need to be assured of our social security. I hereby request that you declare piracy a national disaster and initiate the discussion with the Inspector General of Police to create a full police unit committed to fight piracy and with the Chief Justice to create a special court in the judiciary committed to prosecute and enforce on matters of copyright. Mr. President, there is also an urgent need that Parliament enacts laws that will govern this industry for the ones that exist are either so weak or outdated. Your government has to assure investors who have invested and those who wish to invest in the music industry that their money is safe and will be protected by the law, so that they can invest more. It is also important if the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology made subjects on creative arts and intellectual property compulsory and examinable in all institutions of basic education. The bible says that people perish for lack of knowledge. Gone are the days that a child was cursed and beaten like a donkey for not getting a white color job but making a choice to do music. This industry must be able to pay, and it can only pay if the money it makes enters the right pockets.
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