The High Court on Friday, February 13, barred the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) from collecting royalties after the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) refused to renew its licence for the 2025/2026 period. The decision stripped MCSK of the legal mandate to levy and distribute royalties on behalf of artists.

KECOBO accused the society of failing to submit certified annual returns and audited accounts for five consecutive years and failing to account for KSh56 million in artists’ royalties.

Earlier, the court upheld KECOBO’s decision, ruling that licensing disputes must first be handled by the Copyright Tribunal. Judges said MCSK’s constitutional petitions were disguised appeals, keeping royalty collections suspended as new applications continue.