PHOTOS: Kindiki hosts Samidoh, other artists
The meeting was held in Karen
2d agoJAMES GICHIGINews
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua now says that artists from the Kenya region who visited his successor, Kithure Kindiki, at his Karen residence on Friday must apologise to the community.
Speaking at AIPCA Kihoya in Murang’a County, Gachagua stated that these artists are traitors to the community.
He alleged that at the meeting, the musicians were asked to lie to the people that state programmes are working well.
“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 said.
In response to Gachagua's remarks, the Digital Content Creators Association of Kenya (DCCAK) condemned the statement as “regressive” and a direct affront to Kenya’s constitutional freedoms.
In a strongly worded press release, DCCAK Chairman Bob Ndolo accused Gachagua of attempting to muzzle artistic voices and weaponise culture for political gain.
“It is profoundly unfortunate that at a time when Kenya is working to dismantle barriers that have long denied our artists their rightful income, a former Deputy President would threaten private entertainment businesses unless they deny artists the right to earn a living,” the statement read.
DCCAK emphasised that artistic expression is enshrined under Articles 33 and 40 of the Constitution of Kenya, and that these rights are “neither conditional nor negotiable.”
On his part, Gachagua continued to state that after discussions with Mt Kenya elders, they demand that the artists apologise to the community.
The former DP said that should they fail to, the community should stop listening to their music and entertainment joints should stop inviting them to perform.
He further directed the people to unfollow those who will not apologise on social media platforms.
“I sat with elders yesterday and they told me to announce that those artists must apologise and if they don’t, we will stop listening to their music," he said.
“Secondly, they should not be invited to the entertainment joints where they perform. Any entertainment joint that invites the artistes, customers should boycott your club and move elsewhere. On social media, you unfollow them,” Gachagua said.
On Friday, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki held a meeting with performing artists as part of efforts to consolidate support in the Mount Kenya region.
In what was seen as a strategic move to strengthen his influence, Kindiki met with dozens of artists, including popular secular and gospel performers.
Among those in attendance was celebrated Mugithi maestro Samidoh, whose real name is Samuel Muchoki Ndirangu.
Ben Githae of the popular 'Uhuru Tano Tena' hit of 2017 was also present.
“The creative industry is a multibillion-shilling business, and constant engagement with performing artists and all stakeholders is imperative in finding ways to support them through policy and protection of intellectual property rights,” Kindiki said.
“Had an early morning engagement with musicians and producers on how, as government, we can support their work and the industry as a whole,” he added in a post on his X platform.
