President William Ruto has stepped in to support Gengetone and Urbantone artistes following revelations of widespread exploitation through questionable contracts with foreign entities.
In a statement, the President said he met a section of the artistes who shared “deeply troubling experiences” of losing rights to their music, with over 700 songs reportedly affected. Among them is Sipangwingwi, a popular track by Exray Taniua that gained prominence during the 2022 political season.
Ruto termed the situation regrettable, noting that many young creatives continue to face exploitation despite their talent and significant contribution to Kenya’s cultural identity.
To address the issue, the Head of State revealed that he has facilitated legal support to ensure the affected artistes are adequately represented in court as they seek to reclaim their rights and earnings.
“We have agreed on practical measures to safeguard their interests and ensure they receive fair reward for their work,” he said.
In addition, the President has directed the National Assembly of Kenya, through the Majority Leader, to fast-track the Creative Economy Bill 2026 alongside key copyright reforms aimed at strengthening intellectual property protections.
Ruto said the proposed legislative changes will be crucial in securing the future of Kenya’s creative industry and shielding artistes from exploitation.
He further disclosed that the government has established a digital portal on eCitizen to streamline royalty collection and distribution, ensuring artistes are fairly compensated for their work.