Coastal music star Nyota Ndogo has publicly called out what she describes as excessive licensing demands targeting small business owners, after county officials showed up at her shop seeking a television licence.
The celebrated singer took to social media to vent her frustration, revealing that her staff were approached by county government askaris on Tuesday, demanding payment for a licence simply because the premises had a television.
According to Nyota Ndogo, officials claimed the funds collected from such licences are passed on to artistes.
“Watu wangu leo wamefuatwa kazini wakiulizwa leseni ya kuwa na TV. Eti hizi pesa hukusanywa na kupewa wasanii,” she posted.
Nyota Ndogo questions where MCSK money goes
The singer was quick to poke holes in that justification. She pointed out that she is a musician herself and has gone a considerable amount of time without receiving any payment from the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK), throwing doubt on where such revenue actually ends up.
“Mimi ni mwanamuziki, na nina muda nipate pesa kutoka kwa MCSK… I’m sorry nielimisheni maana hata hizo pesa wasanii hatujioni,” she wrote.
‘Leseni zimekuwa nyingi’ says Nyota Ndogo
Nyota went on to list the range of licences and levies her business is already obligated to pay, from health and fire compliance to county, tourism, and Kenya Revenue Authority requirements.
The arrival of askaris demanding yet another payment for a television she personally purchased, and for electricity she personally pays for, pushed her to the edge.
“Tunalipa health, tunalipa manispaa, tunalipa fire, tunalipa tourism funds, tunalipa KRA, tunalipa TRA waliokuja kumbeba mwanangu. Sasa tunalipa tena leseni ya TV niliyonunua mwenyewe? Stima nalipa mwenyewe?” she posed.
She warned that the situation is reaching a breaking point for many entrepreneurs trying to keep their doors open.
“Yaani, leseni zimekuwa nyingi hii Kenya mpaka unaweza kufunga biashara kabisa,” she said, before signing off with a weary but pointed message:
“Nachoka mimi. Haya ndio kuukua sasa tutayaona mengi.”
Her sentiments struck a nerve with many Kenyans online, particularly small business owners who shared their own experiences of being caught between county and national government agencies, each demanding separate fees for running a legitimate operation.
