PS Ummi Bashir Pushes for More Funding to Strengthen Kenya Copyright Board
0
0
The Principal Secretary for Culture, Arts, and Heritage, Ummi Bashir, has called for increased funding for the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) to boost its efficiency in protecting creatives’ rights and ensuring fair earnings.
Appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Sports and Culture, PS Bashir lamented that underfunding has hindered KECOBO’s operations, preventing young creatives from earning decent incomes. She pointed out that Ksh. 103.7 million collected through the Blank Tape Levy remains undistributed due to ongoing legal battles between Collective Management Organizations (CMOs) and KECOBO.
Bashir urged the committee to advocate for the reinstatement of Ksh. 25 million cut from KECOBO’s budget and an additional Ksh. 43 million to address critical funding gaps, including copyright enforcement, operational costs, and the Board of Directors’ allowances.
She also highlighted KECOBO’s National Rights Registry, which has registered 60,000 creative works from 10,000 rights holders, allowing artists to protect their works remotely. Additionally, over 5,000 creatives and 1,000 law enforcement officers have been trained in copyright enforcement, financial management, and monetization.
KECOBO is also working on amending the Copyright Act, with a Copyright Amendment Bill 2025 set to be presented for approval soon.
Committee Chair Hon. Dan Wanyama and Hon. Caroli Omondi (Suba South MP) pledged their support for KECOBO, emphasizing the need for technology-driven solutions and legal reforms to ensure artists receive fair compensation.
About The Author
