By Susan Mwadime
The Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK), the body tasked with safeguarding artists’ royalties, is embroiled in a bizarre but suppositious leadership crisis. At its centre is one Dr. Ezekiel Mutua, the organisation’s immediate former CEO, whose refusal to vacate office despite being formally dismissed has sparked unnecessary legal battles, industry outrage, and serious questions about governance in Kenya’s creative sector.
Not too long ago, the MCSK board announced Mutua’s termination, citing alleged mismanagement and violations of the organisation’s code of conduct. The decision followed months of internal audits and complaints from artists over delayed royalty payments and opaque financial practices. The MCSK board chairperson stated, “The decision was lawful and necessary to restore trust in MCSK.” The same message was carried in today’s press.
That notwithstanding, Mutua has defiantly rejected his dismissal, calling it “illegal and politically motivated.” In press conferences and social media posts, he insists that he remains CEO, citing a pending court case challenging the board’s authority. Meanwhile, staff at MCSK’s Nairobi office report chaotic scenes, with Mutua allegedly barricading himself in his former office and issuing directives to junior employees. “He arrives daily, demands reports, and acts as if nothing happened,” claimed a source that requested anonymity.
Mutua, a former government communications officer dubbed “Morality Czar” for his controversial tenure at the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) brought polarizing leadership to MCSK. Supporters credit him with digitizing royalty collections, which surged from Ksh. 200 million in 2020 to Ksh 450 million in 2023. “He modernized systems and fought piracy,” said one artist. However, underneath the seeming success, Mutua was up to nothing good.
A 2022 audit report, revealed unexplained expenditure gaps, including Ksh. 18 million spent on “stakeholder workshops” with no documentation. Meanwhile, some artists have actually sued MCSK for unpaid royalties, accusing Mutua of prioritising “flashy conferences over compensating creatives.”
The Mutua-MCSK board standoff has drawn fierce criticism from musicians and stakeholders. “This isn’t about Mutua—it’s about artists’ livelihoods,” a prominent artist recently opined. “MCSK is collapsing while Mutua plays games.” Some time back, over 500 artists petitioned the Copyright Board to dissolve MCSK’s license, calling it “a den of greed.”
Legal experts question Mutua’s defiance. “Once a board dismisses a CEO, their authority ceases immediately,” said a lawyer involved in the on-going tussle. “His presence at MCSK is trespassing.” The Employment and Labour Relations Court is set to rule on the case, yes, but Mutua’s persistence to stay on illegally has already cost MCSK dearly. Currently, royalty distribution is frozen, and international partners have paused collaborations.
Mutua’s tactics echo his KFCB days, where he banned films for “moral decay” while positioning himself as Kenya’s cultural guardian. Now, Mutua frames his MCSK standoff as a “fight against cartels sabotaging artists.” At a recent press briefing, he declared, “I will not let dark forces destroy what we’ve built!”
Psychologists note such rhetoric may reflect a deeper pattern. Leaders who conflate personal identity with institutional roles often struggle to accept exit. It becomes a quest for validation, not service.
The Mutua saga underscores systemic issues in Kenya’s copyright management. MCSK, one of three collective management organizations (CMOs), has long faced accusations of elitism and inefficiency. This crisis proves CMOs need urgent reform. Artists deserve transparent, accountable bodies.
Meanwhile, emerging platforms are capitalizing on the chaos, offering blockchain-based solutions to bypass traditional CMOs. Young artists want autonomy, not paternalism.
As the court prepares its verdict, Mutua’s saga serves as a cautionary tale. Institutions crumble when leaders prioritise ego over mandate. For Kenya’s artists, the true stakeholders, the hope is that this turmoil sparks a renaissance of accountability.
Until then, MCSK remains a ship adrift, long captained by a delirious balloon of vanity that must be shown the door!
Susan is a Mombasa-based human rights activist
