KAMP clarifies eCitizen deal, says govt will not manage artists' copyrights

Kamp Copyright and Related Rights Limited (KAMP) has sought to allay fears of government intrusion into copyright management, insisting that its partnership with the eCitizen platform does not amount to a takeover of collective management operations.

Speaking during its Annual General Meeting held in Nairobi, KAMP confirmed it has been granted an operating licence by the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO), reaffirming its legal mandate to license music use and collect and distribute royalties on behalf of rights holders.

However, the meeting was dominated by pointed questions from members who expressed concern that the government was gradually encroaching on collective management, arguing that copyright is a private right that should not be administered by the State.

In response, the KAMP Chairperson Angela Ndambuki clarified that the engagement with eCitizen is strictly an efficiency and compliance partnership, designed to improve royalty collection without interfering with the Association's independence.

"KAMP remains the licensing authority. All licensing, tariff application, invoicing, data management, reconciliation and distribution functions continue to be carried out through KAMP's licensing system," Angela said.

She further explained that the eCitizen platform is not a rights management system and does not perform any licensing or distribution roles.

"It mainly serves as a payment facilitation and onboarding platform, leveraging its integration with other government systems to improve compliance and ease of payment for licensed users," She added.

Another major concern raised by members was the fear that royalty collections would be routed through government channels; a proposal that had previously been rejected during a past Special General Meeting.

Addressing the issue, KAMP management confirmed that safeguards had been agreed upon to protect rights holders' revenues. According to the Association, all payments are routed through a ring-fenced holding account, with KAMP retaining full visibility and reconciliation rights.

"Collected funds do not enter the National Treasury or any government revenue account and are transferred directly to KAMP for distribution to rightsholders in accordance with the distribution rules passed by members during the AGM," the CEO Maurice Okoth clarified.

KAMP noted that the structure ensures royalties are fully traceable, auditable and protected, helping to address long-standing industry concerns around under-collection, cash leakages and widespread non-compliance by music users.

The Chairperson further stressed that the partnership does not hand over ownership, control or management of intellectual property to the government.

"Critically, the partnership does not transfer ownership, control or management of intellectual property to the government. KAMP continues to manage its membership independently, and no member data is shared beyond what is strictly required to process payments," he said.

The Association reiterated that performers remain a vital part of the music value chain and reaffirmed its commitment to an inclusive copyright framework that ensures fair and lawful remuneration for all contributors.

In closing, KAMP said the eCitizen partnership is a practical step toward modernising copyright administration while keeping rights holders at the centre.

"This partnership strengthens our ability to collect and distribute royalties transparently and efficiently, without compromising the rights of producers or the independence of KAMP," the Chairperson said.

KAMP also expressed appreciation to Principal Secretary for Youth Affairs and the Creative Economy Fikirini Jacobs, and Dennis Itumbi, Head of Presidential Special Projects and Creative Economy Coordination, for their support in advancing reforms aimed at strengthening Kenya's creative economy.

The Association reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability and continuous engagement with its members and stakeholders as the debate around copyright reforms and government involvement in the creative sector continues.