Thousands of Kenyan musicians face delayed royalty payments after the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) suspended the Kenya Association of Music Producers’ licence (KAMP) for 90 days.
KECOBO on Tuesday, July 14, confirmed that KAMP’s licence had been suspended effective July 1, 2026, with the Performing and Audio-Visual Rights Society of Kenya (PAVRISK) taking over royalty collection on an interim basis.
The Copyright Board said the suspension was intended to ensure royalty collection continues uninterrupted while regulatory issues affecting KAMP are addressed.
“PAVRISK shall continue collecting royalties in respect of the rights administered by KAMP during the suspension period,” KECOBO said in the notice.
Kenya Copyright Board Chairman Joshua Kutuny.
Photo
Joshua Kutuny
However, although royalty collection will continue, musicians and producers are likely to face delays in receiving their royalty payments.
KECOBO directed that all royalties collected during the suspension be deposited into a separate designated bank account and not be distributed until further notice.
“The royalties collected shall be deposited into a separate bank account and shall not be distributed, transferred or utilised without further written directions from the Kenya Copyright Board,” the Board directed.
The directive effectively halts royalty payouts, meaning musicians who depend on these earnings could face weeks or even months without payments despite their music continuing to generate income.
Royalty payments form a critical source of income for many Kenyan artists whose music is played on radio and television stations, performed in entertainment venues, or used by bars, restaurants and event organisers.
Although the aforementioned businesses will continue to pay licence fees, the money will remain in the designated account until KECOBO approves its release.
The suspension is expected to have a huge impact on producers and performers because KAMP has previously managed neighbouring rights royalties on their behalf.
Despite the disruption, KECOBO clarified that the suspension does not mean artists have lost their royalties, insisting that the funds will continue to be collected and safeguarded pending further directions.
The Board also instructed PAVRISK to maintain proper records of all collections made during the suspension period to facilitate future reconciliation and eventual distribution once the matter is resolved.
“PAVRISK shall keep proper records and accounts of all royalties collected during the suspension period,” KECOBO stated.
A music studio set up
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