The Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) has suspended the operating license of KAMP Copyright and Related Rights Limited for 90 days from July 1, 2026, in a move aimed at strengthening oversight of collective management organisations while ensuring royalty collections for artists and rights holders continue uninterrupted.
In a public notice issued on Tuesday, the state corporation said the decision was made by its Board of Directors in exercise of its statutory powers under the Copyright Act, 2001 (Revised 2022), which mandates the board to license, regulate and supervise the activities of Collective Management Organisations (CMOs).
The suspension affects KAMP, one of Kenya's key collective management organisations responsible for collecting and distributing royalties on behalf of performers and producers of sound recordings.
"KECOBO Board of Directors resolved to suspend the operating license issued to KAMP Copyright and Related Rights Limited (KAMP) for a period of Ninety (90) Days, effective July 1, 2026," the notice read.
To prevent disruption in royalty collection during the suspension period, KECOBO appointed the Performing and Audio-Visual Rights Society of Kenya (PAVRISK) to collect royalties on behalf of the rights ordinarily managed by KAMP.
According to the board, PAVRISK will only serve as a temporary collector of the royalties and will not be allowed to use or distribute the funds until further instructions are issued by the regulator.
"In order to safeguard the interests of rights holders, during the period of suspension of KAMP's license, Performing and Audio-Visual Rights Society of Kenya (PAVRISK) shall collect royalties for and on behalf of the right ordinarily represented by KAMP within the sectors allocated to KAMP under the applicable licensing framework," KECOBO said.
The board further directed that all royalties collected during the suspension be kept separate from PAVRISK's operational finances to protect the interests of artists and other beneficiaries.
"All monies collected in respect of such right shall be deposited into a separate designated bank account, maintained independently from PAVRISK's operational and distributable funds," the notice stated.
KECOBO added that the funds would remain untouched until it provides further guidance on their management.
"The monies so collected shall be held in trust and shall not be distributed, transferred, applied or otherwise utilized for any purpose unless and until KECOBO issues further written directions regarding their management and distribution," the board said.
The regulator did not disclose the reasons behind the suspension of KAMP's operating licence. However, it maintained that the temporary arrangement was designed to safeguard the interests of rights holders while ensuring royalty collection continues without interruption during the 90-day suspension period.