KENYA: Industry Reacts to the Suspension of MCSK CEO

Months later, the roller coaster that was started by Afropop band Elani’s comments about the discrepancies at the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) looks to have had an effect at the body.

On Tuesday the MCSK Board of members suspended CEO Maurice Okoth over pending criminal cases. In their letter, the board added that Okoth had attempted to defraud the society of Sh350,000 by approving an invoice for alleged legal services by Otieno Arum and Co Advocates by a MCSK employer, which mispresented the Board, bringing about a “conflict of interest”.

Now various artists have come out too speak about the suspension, and going by some of their responses it is clear that a 30 day suspension alone will not do.

"If a car is unroadworthy, don't push it to the side of the roundabout. That will only cause a traffic jam. Again, I say, if a car is unroadworthy remove it completely from the road," gospel artist Rufftone came out to say.

He added, "I would like to tell Bernard Mukaisi, the MCSK chairman, this is not the national festivals where you are writing a dramatic play to be consumed by us, artistes. We want the whole tree down. Its fruits are rotten."

Music Industry Association of Kenya Chairman Arthur K said also weighed in on this issue and it was clear that even he was not satisfied.

"I have a question, if Maurice did what that letter of suspension states, isn't it valid enough that he allegedly acted without approval? What is there to be investigated? I have read that letter of suspension and that is what I call very carefully used words."

In a phone interview with Word Is DNA, who is currently on tour in Las Vegas said, "The letter of suspension is very ambiguous. Yes, it has specific accusations but I would like Maurice to respond to them in public, then I can form an opinion. I have been very vocal about the issue but the more I do my own investigations the more I realise there is a lot I don't know. For now I will say, I have no comment till I hear what Maurice has to say about the letter."

Elani who some would say are responsible for influencing the investigations on the suspended CEO, seem to be the only ones that are somewhat satisfied by the Board’s actions.

"Maurice Okoth's suspension and the investigation into his actions is only the first step. We hope to see progress towards the support, promotion and protection of the artistes' fundamental rights and intellectual property. We urge all artistes to be persistent in the pursuit of the change that we want to see and that we have the power to make," said one of the band members Maureen Kunga.