State, Sauti Sol in talks over Sh80 million project row

ICT Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Information Joe Mucheru with Kisumu county commissioner Maalim Mohamed (right) after touring Dunga Eco craft in Kisumu county on March 24 2017 to witness how the local community are making jewelries and table mats from water hyacinth weed. PIC BY COLLINS ODUOR

Information CS Joe Mucheru has admitted that popular boy band Sauti Sol presented a proposal similar to the Sh80 million "Studio Mashinani" project.

Mr Mucheru, however, denied claims the concept was stolen from the music group, saying although Sauti Sol presented the proposal to former Youth Fund Enterprise Development Chair Bruce Odhiambo, it was never discussed in government circles.

"It is therefore not absolutely right to lay claim to the idea because Mr Odhiambo did not bring the document to the table for government discussion and possible implementation," he said.

The CS said he was aware of complaints lodged by the group through one of their members, Bien Aime Baraza, but said it was a coincident that the band had a similar project.

''We are in discussion with them to sort the matter,'' he said

Mucheru spoke Friday when he toured the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) studios in Kisumu to witness the progress of the Mashinani Studio, which is part of the Sh80 million rural recording studios meant to empower talented youth.

In their protests, Baraza claimed they had presented the proposal to President Uhuru Kenyatta who instructed them to hand it over to former youth Fund boss Bruce Odhiambo.

He said the group was surprised to hear almost a year down the line that a similar project was now being undertaken by the government and different artists, including Jamaicans Richie spice, Lucian and Etana.