Tharaka nithi: The government has intensified its fight against cartels exploiting musicians, artists, and content creators to increase their earnings. Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki stated that the Kenya Kwanza administration is prioritizing streamlining the sector, which has been plagued by unscrupulous individuals seeking to reap unproductive gains.
According to Kenya News Agency, on Wednesday, Prof. Kindiki hosted over 2000 musicians, content creators, and artists at his Irunduni home in Tharaka Nithi County, assuring them that the government will not abandon them to cartels aiming to impoverish them. ‘The cartels in the creative industry must pack and go. We are not requesting them, we are demanding them to exit the stage and allow musicians, content creators, and performing artists to benefit from the sweat and talent that God gave them,’ the DP warned.
Prof. Kindiki, a key figure in the fight against cartels, has declared that the government will persist until artists and creators receive their due compensation. He lamented the millions siphoned off by those contributing little, while musicians and creatives continue to earn meagerly. The DP emphasized that there will be no negotiations or extensions of exploitative agendas, asserting, ‘The government will not be intimidated and will repulse any attempt to frustrate it to give up.’
He reiterated, ‘No amount of resistance, court orders or frustration will stop the government from empowering talented youth in the creative and performance industry. The President has assigned me this work. We will not relent in rooting out cartels in the industry. You are going to see a lot of progress this year.’
The government is also sponsoring Bills in Parliament to improve the earnings of creatives who have suffered for years, intensifying the battle against their long-standing struggles. The State Department for Creative Economy, under the Ministry of Youths, has been specially created to oversee the sector’s affairs.
Prof. Kindiki revealed, ‘We have two new Bills; The Creative Economy Support Bill, 2024 and Culture Bill, 2024 which are now before Parliament. The two will ensure the huge potential in the creative economy is maximized, so that our creative artists can earn from their sweat and talent.’
Following successful battles against cartels in the coffee, tea, and sugar sectors that increased earnings for farmers, the Deputy President said it is time to focus on the creative sector, worth billions of shillings that end up in undeserving pockets. ‘We are starting a national movement to liberate artists, musicians, content creators from the jaws and bondage of cartels and criminals taking away their money.’
Prof. Kindiki declared, ‘We cannot have a country where people exploit others. The culture of exploitation must come to a stop and the time is now. We will fight for you.’
