PHOTO CAPTION: Dr Joseph Njagi, CEO, Performers Rights Society of Kenya (PRISK) Dr Joseph Njagi, the CEO of the Performers Rights Society of Kenya (PRISK) is a very corrupt man.
According to a report, the KPM Joint Operations Committee fingers Dr Njagi for misappropriating Sh2 million. “A total KES 2 million was withdrawn from KPM Account under PRISK CEO’s name (Joseph Njagi) who was also the Quarter CEO; the withdrawal was made in three cheques all in PRISK CEO’s name,” the report stated in part.
KPM Joint Committee noted that the money meant to fund the operations of PRISK, MCSK and KAMP, never reached the destination.
Sh205,000 was supposed to be paid to KAMP, Sh1025,000 to PRISK and Sh770,000 to MCSK. “Despite constant inquiries, no information was provided on how much was individually disbursed to KAMP and MCSK as the Chairmen refuted the above disbursement claims’, the report noted.
Then Dr Njagi began ghosting the meetings called to discuss the issue of the missing funds. “MCSK Chairman Lazarus Muli on a number of occasions called for a meeting between KPM Chairmen and CEOs to account for the funds in vain; it was reported that particularly PRISK CEO declined to attend that meeting”, the statement notes.
MCSK, a veteran in the Collective Management Organisation (CMO) business, was at pains to explain to staff and artists why money was not remitted. KECOBO & PRISK Meanwhile, a romance between Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) and PRISK had blossomed to unimaginable levels.
Turns out that the approval to withdraw Sh2 million was signed by KECOBO.
KECOBO had in 2020 reigned in on the CMOs, and found bad accounting practices to warrant serious oversight to watch the CMOs.
But an explanation on how KECOBO signed off Sh2 million to PRISK was not forthcoming.
Edward Sigei, KECOBO’s Executive Director was said to be strict with funds release.
The KPM Joint Operations Committee, having conducted their investigations, recommended that “The KES 2,000,000 was misappropriated and cannot be accounted for satisfactorily”. They also noted that “Dr Njagi as PRISK CEO as accounting officer categorically refused to provide documents to the committee that he had previously stated were in his possession. This, the Committee observed, amounted to insubordination and should therefore be dealt with accordingly” They also recommended that the money (Sh2 million) be refunded with immediate effect even as the list of suspects grew to involve the following; CEO PRISK – Accounting Officer, Chairman PRISK, Chairman MCSK, Chairman KAMP and CEO MCSK.
Stay tuned to more of Dr Joseph Njagi’s scandal, the next article comes immediately.