Nonini steps down as chair of PRISK board

Hubert Nakitare, AKA Nonini, served as the board chairman of Performers Rights Society of Kenya (PRISK) until August 8. The popular musician has now resigned after internal wrangles.

PRISK is licensed by the Kenya Copyright Board to represent performers in musical and dramatic works. Its mandate include collection and distribution of royalties.

Nonini claimed internal politics has crippled PRISK, and that the organization no longer serves the best interest of Kenyan musicians.

“Today I have officially resigned as Chairman of @priskkenya and above is my resignation letter. We have a regulator @kenyacopyrightboard who issues our licenses to collect and has set out clear conditions we collect jointly with @kamp_kenya @priskkenya & @mpakenyaWhen a board I chair goes against the conditions set by our regulator that means they are going against the government and I will not be party to such.” Wrote Mr Nakitare.

“I cannot continue serving the PRISK board as chairman, on a board where politics of not collecting royalty in line with KECOBO directives is more important that the future of the Kenyan music industry collecting royalty jointly,” Nonini, who was appointed to the post in April said.

He blamed PRISK’s board of Directors, where the Daddy Owen and Ian Mbugua seat, as well as the Kenya Association of Music Producers (KAMP) for his decision to resign.