The Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) has sharply criticized former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for urging a boycott of Mt Kenya musicians who recently met with Deputy President Kithure Kindiki. In a strong statement, MCSK CEO Ezekiel Mutua warned against politicizing the music industry and attempting to economically sabotage artists over political affiliations.
Gachagua, while speaking at AIPCA Kihoya in Murang’a County on Sunday, accused the artists of betraying the Mt Kenya community by aligning with Kindiki. He demanded public apologies from the musicians, warning that failure to do so would result in boycotts from fans and exclusion from entertainment venues. He further directed the public to unfollow the artists on social media platforms.
“Our artists and musicians have become traitors to the community. They were told to come and lie to you that SHA is working, roads are being built, and the education sector is doing well,” Gachagua claimed.
In response, MCSK denounced the remarks, emphasizing that musicians must not be used as pawns in political battles. “Let it be clearly stated that MCSK will not tolerate any form of economic sabotage targeting our members,” Mutua asserted.
He warned that any entertainment venue that adheres to calls for discrimination against the artists would not be licensed by the society. “Public performances constitute a vital source of income for our artists, and introducing divisive political measures that threaten this livelihood would be tantamount to destroying the very foundation of their creative enterprise,” Mutua added.
Mutua called on all entertainment stakeholders to resist the boycott, emphasizing that it infringes on fundamental rights such as freedom of association and expression. He also encouraged musicians to remain united and focused on their craft despite political tensions.
This standoff follows a consultative meeting between Kindiki and leading Mt Kenya musicians last Friday at his Karen residence, where the DP pledged to address longstanding industry challenges, including low earnings and exploitation.
As political rifts in Mt Kenya deepen, MCSK has drawn a firm line, vowing to protect artists from becoming collateral damage in the region’s ongoing political contests.
