The Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) has renewed Performing and Audio-Visual Rights Society of Kenya (PAVRISK) license clearing it to manage royalty collections and distribution in the music and audio-visual sectors across the country.
According to the firm, the Collective Management Organization (CMO) license is expected to boost its credibility and ensure compliance with the copyright law and regulations geared towards protecting intellectual property rights in Kenya’s creative and digital economy.
“We are elated with the decision taken by KECOBO to issue us with an operating license to represent musicians and audio-visual right holders. This was achieved based on the strong applications we submitted and demonstrated to the board that we have satisfied all the legal requirements and conditions set by the regulator,” said Edwardo Waigwa, PAVRISK chairman.
Other CMOs licensed by the board through a public notice dated October 14, 2025 include KAMP Copyright and Related Rights Ltd who are now required to manage Sound Recording Producers royalties for a period of one year, effective from November 5, 2025.
KECOBO chairman Joshua Kutuny said the board resolved to issue an operating license to PAVRISK after it satisfied all the legal requirements and conditions required for a legitimate CMO.
“KECOBO board of Directors held a special board meeting on 14th October 2025 to deliberate on the licensing of the CMOs following the rigorous recruitment process,” said Kutuny.
Kutuny said the licensing is subject to a raft of conditions key among them the provision of an updated list of members, their copyright works, and authorities to manage the rights in their works.
He said the other requirement is the use of approved ICT systems for all collections of royalties, licensing, media monitoring, and distribution of royalties to musicians and audio-visual right holders.
Additionally, Kutuny said applicants were required to have established a royalty collection trust account and paybill account with joint signatories that will automatically adhere to the 70-30pc distribution rule.
However, Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK), FIlm Makers Rights Achievers of Kenya (FRAK) and Collective Management Services (CMS) which were among the applicants who submitted their applications for consideration were not lucky.
MCK was denied the CMO license following accusations of mismanagement of funds and diversion of royalties, leadership wrangles which KECOBO says threatens the organization.
The rivalry has seen the emergence of two parallel camps of directors, one led by Ephantus Wahome Kamau and Ezekiel Mutua as chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), respectively while the other faction is headed by Lazarus Muli while Richard Sereti is the acting CEO.
In May this year, KECOBO granted PAVRISK all rights to collect from broadcasters, general licensing, barber shops, saloons, supermarkets, hotels, bars and restaurants among others.
