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.
On Wednesday, he hosted over 2000 musicians, content creators, and artists at his Irunduni home in Tharaka Nithi County, ensuring that the government will not abandon them due 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 stated that the government will not resign until artists and creators receive their due compensation.
He decried the the millions of money siphoned by those contributing the least, even as musicians and creatives continue to suffer the ignominy of earning peanuts.
The DP warned that there will be no negotiations that will extend an exploitative agenda, adding, “The government will not be intimidated and will repulse any attempt to frustrate it to give up.
“No amount of resistance, court orders or frustration will stop the government from empowering talented youth in the creative and performance industry,” he reiterated.
“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,” he added.
At the same time, the government is sponsoring Bills in Parliament to improve the earnings of creatives who have suffered for years, intensifying the battle against their long-standing struggles.
Additionally, the battle is already being intensified from many angles including legal means with the government sponsoring various Bills in Parliament, geared towards improving earnings of the creatives who have suffered for many years.
Meanwhile, the State Department for Creative Economy, under the Ministry of Youths has also been specially created to look after the affairs of those depending on the sector.
“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,” the DP revealed.
Previously, following successful battles against cartels in the coffee, tea and sugar sectors that have led to notable increase in earnings for farmers, the Deputy President said it is time to shift attention to the creative sector, which is 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.”
“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,” he declared.
By Dickson Mwiti
