Concerns over the management of royalties in Kenya’s music industry have intensified after the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) took action against one of the country’s key collective management organizations.
KECOBO has suspended the operating licence of the Kenya Association of Music Producers (KAMP) for a period of three months, with the suspension taking effect from July 1, 2026.
The decision follows a regulatory review that examined the organization’s governance, financial management, licensing practices, and compliance with legal requirements.
In a notice signed by KECOBO Board Chairman Joshua Kutuny, the regulator said the action was necessary after finding several areas where KAMP had failed to meet its obligations.
Among the issues raised was KAMP’s alleged failure to comply with commitments contained in a consent agreement signed in June 2025 between KAMP and the Performing and Audio-Visual Rights Society of Kenya.
The agreement had been introduced to help harmonize licensing operations and improve coordination within the sector.
According to KECOBO, despite being given adequate time to implement the agreed measures, KAMP did not demonstrate meaningful progress in fulfilling the undertakings contained in the agreement.
The board also established that distributable royalties amounting to KSh 5.5 million were reportedly used for non-core activities.
KECOBO said this went against statutory requirements governing licensed Collective Management Organizations (CMOs), whose primary responsibility is to safeguard and distribute royalties on behalf of rights holders.
Further concerns were raised over KAMP’s compliance with the mandatory 70:30 royalty distribution principle.
The regulator stated that the organization retained and spent royalties that should have been distributed to rights holders, affecting the interests of the musicians and producers it represents.
As a result of the suspension, KAMP has been directed to immediately stop all activities that require a CMO licence under the Copyright Act.
These include issuing licences, collecting royalties, negotiating tariffs, demanding licence fees, and conducting any related licensing functions.
KECOBO has also instructed the organization to prepare and submit a comprehensive action plan and compliance report detailing how it will address the governance, financial, operational, and regulatory gaps identified during the review.
During the suspension period, the Performing and Audio-Visual Rights Society of Kenya will collect royalties on behalf of rights holders ordinarily represented by KAMP.
KECOBO further directed that all royalties collected be held in trust and not distributed or utilized until further instructions are issued regarding their management and eventual distribution.
