A number of Kenyan artistes met with Kenya Young Parliamentarians Association, chaired by Johnson Sakaja, at the Kenya National Theatre on Friday to discuss an array of issues affecting them.
Top of their agenda was the issue of Skiza Tunes.
Music Industry Association of Kenya chairman Arthur K said: "I would like to ask our friends in parliament to get involved in the Skiza deal. Why? Because it is the highest money earner for artistes in Kenya today. Yo cannot pirate that. What you need to deal with is the share Safaricom is retaining."
Award-wining rapper DNA echoed Arthur's sentiments saying: " Skiza is an equaliser. It reduces the gap between the artistes who are eating and those who are starving."
The Maswali ya Polisi and Banjuka star asked Sakaja, "Help us to expedite the court cases involving Skiza so that the money held by the telcos goes to the CMOs [collective management organisations], if indeed there is a technology to monitor the proper distribution of the royalties to the right artistes."
Addressing the musicians, Sakaja said: "Having been an artiste before, the industry is nowhere near where it was 10 years ago. I wish I was a msanii now because you have more stations, more airplay, more gigs and a government willing to listen to your grievances and you have a society like MCSK. I'm not speaking on their behalf, I'm here for politics. Politics comes from the word policy and politics is about who gets what, when — which is of concern to you. We know what the issues are and we resolve them with that aim in mind. You are the owners of MCSK, whatever you do must be to reform and improve the society through its systems, its processes, through accountability and if there is an issue of corruption, it is dealt with head on."
The meeting between the young parliamentarians and artistes resolved that MCSK officials who have been charged should get out of office. They agreed that the institution must be overhauled and the Skiza percentage share (15 per cent for artistes) must be renegotiated. I addition, KYPA will sit with nominated artistes to look at the adaptation of the National Music Policy into a bill. The bill will include a section to lock out foreign adverts and use of foreign music in ads.