Embu bar owners oppose MCSK levies

Bar and business owners in Embu County are planning to file a petition in parliament over charges by the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK).

This will also affect other bodies in the county which are in possession of entertainment gadgets in their premises.

The owners, through Embu County Liquor Dealer Association said the levies being imposed on them were unfair since the bodies were neither adding any value nor offering any services to their businesses.

Led by the association chairman John Ireri Ndong’ong’i, the business owners said they were levied for property which is already paid for given that various media houses pay royalties to the musicians.

Ndong’ong’i noted that bar owners were the most affected as they pay for the number of Television sets they have in their premises.

“Majority of Kenyans will be in the dark if levies were allowed to go on since they were paying for pay-tv and now Music Copyright Society of Kenya,” he said.

The Association called on other businesses to join in their petition urging their members not to continue paying the levies until they are told what value it was adding to their business.

Early October, gospel singer Ringtone led artists in a demonstration over Skiza Tune royalties at the Safaricom House.

The artists, who said they had not been paid for three months, feared that their moneys were making their way into the pockets of corrupt individuals.

The Music Copyright Society of Kenya held its elections in April this year with one of the candidates, David Makali, who owns Sound Africa record company, saying his company did not make as much money as he had expected despite the fact that it has 30 records to boast of.

The artistes are expected to enjoy benefits from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) in the coming months as MCSK promises to unveil a medical plan that will cater for its members medical needs.