Ezekiel Mutua, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) has responded to scathing remarks from Public Service Cabinet Secretary (CS) Moses Kuria.

CS Kuria earlier this week attacked Mutua, accusing him of failing to disburse all dues to Kenyan artists.

Speaking in a local station, Kuria announced that a raft of measures were already in motion to “fix” the situation.

“We are doing a lot as government to support talents, are we doing this to support them on one hand and then some people just mess them up on the other hand? As a responsible government we won’t do it.

“Due process will take place and we are going to salvage our artistes from the yoke of people who want to exploit them. They will get their rights. We have amendments coming in the Copyright Act and they are going to sort out this problem once and for all,” he added.

Ezekiel Mutua on TV47

Ezekiel Mutua responded to Kuria’s criticism on TV47’S Mfahamu Kiongozi show hosted by Liz Mutuku every Thursday at 7:30pm.

“I cannot be intimidated by anybody. I come from Mwala where there were witches and demons and we overcame them… I do not need any favours from the government. I have never knelt before anybody begging for a job,” he began.

The MCSK boss went ahead to assert that he was even more popular than most cabinet secretaries.

“If I stood among most of the ministers how many people do you think would recognize me and not them?

“I am more popular than most of the ministers in Kenya. Moses Kuria said I am paid more than a minister so if I am earning more than a minister why would I want to become a minister?” Mutua posed.

Royalties Distribution

Ezekiel Mutua was embroiled in another tiff with other government officials including; Dennis Itumbi over royalties distribution.

He called for the overhaul of the payment formula of royalties as it was reportedly a way of robbing off artists their rightful earnings.

“Dear Ezekiel Mutua, yaani, we are paying musicians peanuts as royalties and paying the collectors millions. and you find nothing wrong with that model? Musicians = PEANUTS/ Per Year . CMOS CEO = 1.3M Per month.

“Hii apana! Let us empower our artists, on that, like Paul in Scripture, My Eyes are firmly on the finishing line!” Itumbi added.