“It’s Such a Shame to See our Music Heroes Living in Squalor” – Raila Odinga

CORD leader Raila Odinga has come out to put the government on the spot over the neglect of Kenya’s music heroes.
Raila was speaking on Monday evening during an event to officially unveil a joint medical insurance scheme for musicians by the three collective management organisations(CMOs), the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK), Performer’s Rights Society of Kenya (PRISK) and Kenya Association of Music Producers(KAMP).
“When the current regime took power, they promised that artistes will be taken care of. Nothing has been done so far. It’s such a shame to see our music heroes, such as Mzee Enock Ondego, living in squalor. He cannot even afford medical care. It’s emotionally draining,” he said.
Raila set up a kitty for Mzee Ondego (he of the post-independence Mwakigwena Previous Choir) towards his medical care. He donated Sh100,000 in cash during the event, which doubled up as the official launch of the MCSK Annual Music Talent Awards Gala (Mamtag).
The new medical insurance scheme will ensure members from the three CMOs are able to access NHIF inpatient and outpatient services across listed hospitals in and out of the country.
“This is a milestone for us and for every artiste in Kenya. It’s been long overdue but we are here to ensure that artistes enjoy full benefits of their work,” said MCSK chairman Bernard Mukaisi.