The Chief Executive Officer of the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK), Dr. Ezekiel Mutua, has launched a scathing attack on the Kenyan media, accusing it of widespread corruption and deliberate efforts to undermine the country’s creative industry.
In a statement released this week, Dr. Mutua claimed that some media houses have conspired to distort facts, suppress positive developments, and tarnish the image of Collective Management Organizations (CMOs) like MCSK to avoid paying royalties owed to artists. According to him, only about 15 percent of broadcasters in Kenya comply with royalty payment laws, leaving many musicians in poverty.
“This explains why a fake public notice about me was recently published, despite the fact that the media house involved knew it was false,” said Dr. Mutua. “The aim is to discredit me and weaken the institutions I lead, simply because I have refused to bow to corrupt interests.”
Dr. Mutua, a trained journalist with nearly three decades of experience in media and communications, said his conflict with the media is rooted in his commitment to ethical journalism and protection of creatives’ rights. He began his career at the Nation Media Group, where he worked for nine years before joining the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ), eventually becoming its Secretary General.
“I saw first-hand how the media can shape a nation. That’s why I’ve dedicated my life to cleaning up the sector,” he said.
As a media regulator and later CEO of the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB), Dr. Mutua spearheaded major reforms including digital migration, regulation of harmful content, and promotion of local talent. He also represented Kenya on international platforms such as the Cannes Film Festival and served as Vice President of the African Continent Standards Setting Harmonisation Committee.
Now at MCSK, Dr. Mutua says the fight continues — not just for fair compensation for artists, but for the soul of the nation’s media. “Kenya will never change as long as we have a corrupt and unethical media,” he warned.
Despite the opposition, Dr. Mutua insists he will not relent. “This is my calling. I have prepared myself for it academically and professionally. My commitment is to truth, justice, and the dignity of Kenya’s creative industry,” he concluded.
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