This archive report was first published on 14 August 2019.
On August 13, 2019, Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) distributed Sh2,530 to each of its 13,967 members via M-Pesa, representing their two months' earnings.
However, the move has been met with resistance from several Kenyan artistes, who claim the amounts are meager.
Flamboyant rapper King Kaka questioned MCSK's distribution, stating, 'So MCSK sends everyone Kshs 2500 15k members that’s 37M are you sure that’s all you collected. Kukula jasho ya Mtu ni laana na naskia kama hauna license wanakushika right there and then, Wacheni ufala.'
MCSK responded by explaining that the distribution was a general one, citing that if they strictly followed scientific distribution, 70% of the money collected would be paid to international societies.
The beef between MCSK and Kenyan artistes is not new, with a similar controversy arising in 2016 when Elani, a three-member band, revealed they had received royalties worth only Sh31,000 for songs played on radio and TV for a year.
