William Ruto on April 1 welcomed Gengetone and Urbantone artists to State House Nairobi, where they expressed serious worries about losing their music rights due to questionable agreements with foreign organizations.
These musicians have collectively forfeited more than 700 songs, including the famous “Sipangwingwi” by Exray, a song that dominated public conversations during the 2022 election campaign.
“I engaged with Gengetone and Urbantone artists, who recounted deeply distressing incidents concerning their music rights being compromised through suspicious dealings with overseas entities,” stated Ruto.
The President characterized the circumstances as unfortunate, recognizing that Kenya’s emerging creative professionals persistently encounter exploitation despite their exceptional abilities and vital role in shaping the nation’s cultural landscape.
“It is disheartening that our young creative talents continue to be taken advantage of despite their extraordinary skills and the significant impact they have on our cultural heritage,” he emphasized.
In response, Ruto announced he has arranged legal assistance to guarantee that the musicians receive proper legal representation in court, and that concrete steps have been established to protect their rights and ensure they receive just payment for their creative endeavors.
Regarding the actions taken, the President remarked, “I have provided legal backing to ensure they have appropriate court representation, and we have determined tangible measures to protect their rights and ensure they obtain equitable compensation for their efforts.”
He additionally disclosed that he has requested the National Assembly, via the Majority Leader, to expedite the Creative Economy Bill 2026 along with essential copyright amendments.
He described these measures as essential; to protect artists, enhance intellectual property protections, and secure the future of Kenya’s creative sector.
“I have also instructed the National Assembly, through the Majority Leader, to accelerate the Creative Economy Bill 2026 together with crucial copyright modifications,” Ruto stated.
The President further updated the artists that the administration has created a digital platform on e-Citizen to facilitate royalty collection and distribution.
He signaled a wider dedication to developing a more organized and safeguarding framework for the nation’s creative sector.