The Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) has denied claims that it dismissed its CEO, Dr Ezekiel Mutua, calling the reports false and politically motivated.
A notice published in the Daily Nation earlier this week declared Mutua’s contract terminated and warned the public against conducting any official business with him. But MCSK’s current leadership insists Mutua is still in office — and is going nowhere.
“The MCSK has noted with concern a false and malicious public notice… which wrongly claims that Dr Ezekiel Mutua is no longer the Chief Executive Officer,” said MCSK Chairman Ephantus Wahome Kamau in a strongly worded statement on Friday.
He blamed the notice on a group of former directors who left the organisation in February, accusing them of spreading misinformation after a dispute over hefty exit payments.
“These allegations are entirely baseless,” the statement read. “The individuals behind this notice are former directors whose terms ended on 16 February. They have no authority to speak or act on behalf of the Society.”
According to Wahome, the disagreement centres on over KSh200 million in contested arrears. He claimed Mutua refused to approve the payouts, which the former board members allegedly demanded upon leaving office.
That decision appears to have triggered a power struggle now playing out in public view.
Despite the turmoil, Wahome reaffirmed the current board’s support for Mutua, who has led MCSK since 2021 and is known for his combative media presence and outspoken defence of artists’ rights.
“The current Board of Directors, as reflected in the official CR12 records of the Government of Kenya, fully supports Dr Mutua’s leadership and commends his outstanding performance,” Wahome said.
He urged the public and stakeholders to ignore the notice, describing it as a deliberate attempt to destabilise the society.
“MCSK operates under lawful governance and strategic direction,” Wahome added, pointing to its role in protecting music rights holders and artists.
The organisation is now demanding an apology from Daily Nation, warning of legal consequences if it fails to retract what MCSK calls a defamatory notice.
“Given the gravity of this issue, and having warned the Daily Nation against publishing the defamatory notice, we demand an immediate and prominent public apology,” said the statement.
Mutua, who was pictured this week at MCSK offices and at international events last year, has yet to issue a personal response. But insiders say he is preparing for a legal battle, should it become necessary.
The row comes at a time when Kenya’s creative industry is grappling with questions of governance, transparency, and artist welfare. With streaming platforms shifting revenue models and artists calling for better royalty collection, the leadership at MCSK is under increasing scrutiny.
In the short term, the society’s credibility — and Mutua’s grip on power — may depend on how decisively it resolves this internal rift.
