National Assembly Majority leader Kimani Ichung’wah has called on Deputy President Kithure Kindiki to ensure that musicians are protected.
Speaking on Sunday, Ichung’wah said the Deputy President must also make sure their businesses are guarded because they are not any different from the businesses they own as leaders.
“We want to ask the Deputy President, protect our musicians and guard their businesses because work is work. Their jobs are businesses just like mine and yours,” he said.
Ichung’wah’s remarks followed calls by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to have some of the musicians from the Mt Kenya region boycotted and not invited for shows after they held a meeting with Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.
The Kikuyu MP warned leaders against accusing and threatening musicians just because they met persons who do not subscribe to their ideology.
He added that the country must not allow any form of incitement against musicians, regardless of where they come from, insisting that it is wrong.
“We as leaders should not accuse musicians of wrongdoing when they meet the Deputy President, that is wrong and we must not allow incitement against our children who are working as musicians, be they from Mt Kenya or any other part of the country,” Ichung’wah stated.
Kindiki, on his part, said that he will protect musicians and ensure an end to exploitation by middlemen and Collective Management Organisations (CMOs).
He reiterated his commitment to making sure they get what their share is rightfully.
“I will continue to advocate for these musicians to get their rights. Why should a musician who God has given talent like a footballer and a comedian, but our musicians continue to be oppressed by brokers and phone companies and those who use their Skiza? They must get their rights,” Kindiki said.
Gachagua had on Sunday asked the musicians who visited Kindiki at his Karen residence to apologise to the community. He said this was agreed after discussions with Mt Kenya elders.
Speaking at AIPCA Kihoya in Murang’a County, Gachagua stated that these artists are traitors to the community.
“Our artists and musicians have become traitors to the community. They were told to come and lie to you that SHA is working, roads are being built, and the education sector is doing well,” Gachagua said.
The former DP said that should they fail to, the community should stop listening to their music and entertainment joints should stop inviting them to perform.
He further directed the people to unfollow those who will not apologise on social media platforms.
“I sat with elders yesterday and they told me to announce that those artists must apologise and if they don’t, we will stop listening to their music," he said.
