Ministry Raises Music Royalty Charges Ahead of 2027 Political Campaigns
Kenyan musicians are expected to earn more from their work after the government introduced higher music royalty charges for politicians preparing for the 2027 General Election campaigns.
In a fresh notice seen by Newshub.co.ke, the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports announced revised charges under the Consolidated Music and Audiovisual Works Tariff.
The changes are meant to ensure artists receive better payment whenever their music is used during political activities such as rallies, party launches, and campaign events.
According to the notice signed by Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya, political parties will continue paying a flat annual fee of Ksh600,000 for the use of music during official functions, including campaign rallies and party events.
While this amount remains unchanged, the charges for individual candidates seeking various political seats have been increased.
Under the new pricing structure, any presidential candidate will now pay Ksh500,000, up from the previous Ksh400,000.
Those running for the position of governor will pay Ksh200,000, while senatorial candidates will part with Ksh150,000.
For parliamentary races, members of parliament and women representatives will now pay Ksh100,000 each, which is double the earlier fee of Ksh50,000.
At the county level, Members of County Assembly (MCAs) will pay Ksh15,000, slightly higher than the previous Ksh12,500.
The revised tariff will be in effect from January 2026 to December 2028, covering the entire campaign period leading up to and shortly after the 2027 elections.
This timeline is expected to help collecting agencies and artists plan ahead for licensing and royalty collections.
The new schedule does not only target politicians. It also affects other users of copyrighted music.
For example, individuals organizing events will pay different fees depending on how popular or widely used the selected music is. This means bigger or high-profile events using hit songs may attract higher charges.
In addition, mobile DJs will now be required to pay Ksh20,000 every year to legally use copyrighted music in their entertainment businesses.
Commercial vehicles that play music for passengers have also been included, with annual charges ranging between Ksh4,000 and Ksh12,000, depending on the type and size of the vehicle.
This latest review is seen as a major financial boost for local musicians, especially when compared to the previous election cycle.
During the last campaign period, royalty charges were significantly lower for most political candidates, meaning artists earned less despite their songs being widely used to energize crowds and build campaign identities.
Many musicians have welcomed the decision, saying it comes at the right time when the creative industry continues to face economic pressure.
Artists argue that producing quality music has become expensive due to rising studio, production, and promotion costs. Higher royalties from campaign usage could therefore provide much-needed support.
Some artists have also pointed out that political use of their music often places them under public pressure, with fans sometimes accusing them of supporting certain politicians simply because their songs are played at rallies.
Because of this, many believe the previous rates did not fairly reflect the commercial and reputational weight attached to such use.
The changes also come against the backdrop of growing copyright disputes involving politicians and campaign teams.
In recent years, several leaders have faced threats of legal action for using musicians’ songs without direct permission, raising fresh concerns about copyright abuse in political spaces.
With the revised tariffs now in place, the government hopes to strengthen protection for creators while ensuring political campaigns fairly compensate the musicians whose work helps shape public events and messaging.
Overall, the move is expected to increase income for local artists and bring more structure to the use of music in Kenya’s fast-changing political environment.
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