The High Court has stopped the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) from collecting royalties from copyright users following a major licensing dispute.
In a ruling delivered on Friday, February 13, the court upheld a decision by the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) to deny MCSK renewal of its licence as a Collective Management Organisation (CMO) for the 2025/2026 licensing period. The decision effectively means that MCSK no longer has the legal mandate to levy or collect royalties on behalf of artists and other rights holders.
KECOBO declined to renew the licence citing compliance failures by MCSK. According to the regulator, the society did not submit certified annual returns and audited financial statements for the past five years, as required under copyright regulations.
The agency is also facing allegations of financial mismanagement. It has been accused of failing to account for Ksh56 million in royalties meant for artists, raising concerns over transparency and accountability in the management of creatives’ earnings.
The court’s ruling now places the future operations of MCSK in uncertainty, with stakeholders in the creative industry closely monitoring developments. Artists and copyright users are expected to await further guidance from the regulator regarding royalty collection and distribution for the current licensing period.
The decision marks a significant development in Kenya’s copyright management sector, highlighting growing scrutiny over governance and financial accountability within collective management organisations.