We Do Not Have a Kenyan Music Industry At least Not Yet

We are willing to take an unpopular stance by boldy stating that there is no such thing as a Kenyan music industry. There are several efforts by different groups and individuals seeking to build and establish a Kenyan music industry, but we are just not there yet. Luckily, our generation is one of the most informed and likely to be the generation that provides a solution. As far as music business is concerned in the Kenyan music landscape, there is no organization bigger than Sol Generation. Sol Generation is the record label and company formed by Sauti Sol that has gone beyond just being a label for Sauti Sol but signed several names to include Bensoul and Nviiri. Sol Generation has also recently ventured into publishing and began signed different Kenyan acts under publishing contracts. Sauti Sol and Sol Generation are also responsible for the annual Sol Fest festival. Another artist founded effort is Kaka Empire founded by King Kaka and Dennis Njenga. Kaka Empire is the label that Femi One is signed under and has birthed several artists into the music industry including Jadi and DJ JR 254.

We would say that a Kenyan music industry exists when Kenyan artists are able to make a living purely from their music. Currently artists do not receive royalties when their music is played on radio despite the fact that radio stations pay for licensing from CA, Media Council of Kenya and MSCK. If they are registered, keyword being IF then Kenyan artists registered with MCSK might be lucky to receive an MPESA from MCSK once in a year but nothing significant thus why they are able to send it via MPESA. Popular artists like Bien have lamented the poor state of MCSK with many new artists not even registering with MCSK. The focus for many artists in 2025 is streaming and even that is not paying Kenyan artist enough.

Let nobody fool your however, there is a lot of money in the Kenyan entertainment industry but like with everything in Kenya kuna brokers. Before your figure something our or get the right information, it might take your years. An industry means that everybody eats not just the chosen few. It means that if you are a creative and you invest your time and money into your craft then your craft should pay you if you take it to the market and offer it at a price. As it is now, the “Kenyan music industry” is at best a freelance gig with artists relying on gigs to survive and gigs available to limited to certain artists or not paying upcoming artists anything or much to perform.

Maybe the solution is a platform, maybe the solution is communication or maybe the solution is bringing everybody together into an organization that everybody is represented and democracy exists. We don’t know but we plan on trying as many options as it takes to help build or establish a working Kenyan music industry. It’s sad to say that we came into the game when no industry existed and years later exist without a Kenyan music industry in place to help provide and cater for Kenyan artist who dedicate their lives to music.