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Another tribute for Hussein Mohamed, the ‘shareholder’

The Government will move the Kenya Copyright Board from the Office of the Attorney General to the Ministry of ICT as part of measures to protect musicians from exploitation.

The announcement was made by President Uhuru Kenyatta when he led thousands of mourners in sending off Benga music icon, John Mwangi Ng’ang’a well known as John De’Mathew in Gatanga, Murang'a County today.

The announcement on copyright board is part of several measures the President revealed that are aimed at protecting the rights of artistes.

The President said the right home ministry for the copyright board is ICT because that is where it can have the ability to monitor broadcasters, telecoms and other entities that use productions by artistes.

He said the Ministry of ICT is under firm instructions to ensure that artistes get their dues such as royalties.

“I have instructed the ICT Ministry to ensure that before renewal of licenses for broadcasters and telecoms they must pay what they owe artistes,” said the President when he spoke at the funeral service of the late musician held at Githambia Primary School grounds in Muranga County.

He said broadcasters and telecoms should pay for music they play because they are using it to make money.

The President who was accompanied by Deputy President Dr William Ruto said he has also instructed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to probe organisations that collect money on behalf of musicians to see if they are embezzling what they collect.

“The music industry has a problem that needs to be fixed. Recently we were told that an organisation collected around Shs 200 million on behalf of musicians and then claimed that they spent 60 percent of that money as expenses for the collection,” said the President.

He also encouraged Members of Parliament to push through an amendment to the copyright laws that is pending in parliament and which is aimed at protecting the interests of artistes.

President Kenyatta said De’Mathew was his personal friend who loved peace and who liked to unite people and not to divide them.

In the late musician's honour and to support upcoming talented artistes, the President announced that the government will set up a Shs 10 million studio at Kirwarwa within Gatanga Constituency.

DP Ruto said De’Mathew has been a prominent champion of the interests of musicians especially through Tamko Sacco where he was chairman. The Sacco was established so as to support local musicians to save and access loans for their collective and individual prosperity.

Dr Ruto assured Tamko Sacco members of government's support in completing a commercial building the group plans to construct at their parcel of land in Kenol town off Thika-Nyeri highway.

The funeral was attended by several Cabinet Secretaries including James Macharia (Transport), Amina Mohamed (Sports), Mwangi Kiunjuri (Agriculture) and Joe Mucheru (ICT).

Local leaders led by Governor Mwangi wa Iria, Senator Irungu Kangata and County Woman MP Sabina Chege said De’Mathew was more than just a prominent musician to the people of Muranga.

Ommy Dimpoz teams up with his fellow superstar and longtime friend rapper and lyrical gifted Mwanafal to bring you HELLO.

The gentlemen slow in down to describe a lost love - as Ommy pleads for his love back, Mwanafa takes on a whole new attitude to express his emotions.

Watch the video below

Two Human rights lobby groups in Mombasa toady differed over Interior CS Fred Matiang'i's directive to have bars and pubs closed early on Saturday and Sunday due to the census exercise expected to kick off tomorrow.

According to Haki na Usawa Social Justice Centre executive director Salim Suleiman the directive is unconstitutional since it curtails the freedom of movement.

Suleiman charged "We respect this census, but it is wrong to deny people their right of association. Let the enumerators go into the bars and count the people in there,"

He further pointed out that as an organisation they have had a meeting with the officer commanding in charge of Changamwe Police station to discuss the issue and see how residents of Changamwe can go on with their business without being 'Intefered'

After months of speculations on the fate of Harmonize at WCB, the truth is finally out.

According to one of the managers at the record label Sallam Mendez, harmonize has alredy informed the management of his intention to terminate his contract.

Speaking to Wasafi fm, Mendez said they are not against the move.

"As for now his heart is not at WCB, its only the contract that is keeping him there but he has already informed us that he wants to terminate the contrcat" said Mendez.

Adding "We like his approach since he has followed the due process so we have no issue with that"

Reports of Harmonize exiting the label recently gathered weight after he officially changed his Instagram bio.

He removed the ‘Signed under WCB Wasafi’ tag which is used by  all artists signed under the label 

According to reports Harmonize's decision came about after some differences with his boss and founder of the biggest label currently in East Africa, Diamond Platnumz.

In one of his songs (Inama), Diamond suggested that Harmonize had to fire his former bodyguard Mwarau fighter after he slept with his Italian girlfiend Sarah.

http://ommydalla.co.ke/gossip/item/1179-reaveled-wcb-to-unveil-two-new-signees?fbclid=IwAR3uvPlAHQ1Rxl_Yja2jWnvJejZizhV41dBEiSUs_bnE-OohkrvnhzmShVU

Harmonize who has formed his own clique 'Konde Gang'  will be the second artist to walk out of the label after Rich Mavoko who left the label shortly after being signed in 2016.

Kenya Ports Authority [KPA] board chairman Gen (Rtd) Joseph Kibwana and KPA General Manager in charge of operation  William Ruto were sent away by parliamentary committee  for labour after failing to convince it over its 30 percent tender awarding for youths and persons with disabilities.

They had appeared before the committee chaired by Ali Wairo and Vice Chairperson Joyce Korir Chepkoech to shed light on over the 30 per cent constitutional requirement for youths and person with disability.

They were accompanied by KPA acting Procurement Manager Aza Dzengo at the Tamarind Hotel in Mombasa during an interrogation which did not even last 30 minutes.

The committee was never convinced with the procurement document presented to them and decided to shelve the meeting to another day.

The committee chair directed KPA Managing Director Daniel Manduku to appear in person instead of sending a presentation to the committee.

The KPA team was unable to prove crucial documents relating to tender awarding at the authority as per committee demands before the angry committee members adjourned the session.

Earlier in the day National Social Security Fund [NSSF] board of trustee member Mark J. Obuya was given a go ahead to organize a one day workshop to discuss perennial issues pending at the organization.

This was after the committee was furnished with various procurement and tender documents issued at the company helm.

The committee will have a session with the National Youths Service [NYS] tomorrow at 9 am (Thursday) over the stalled bus transport project which was meant for the urban centres.