REVEALED: Why ERIC OMONDI caused CHA0S TODAY IN PARLIAMENT

Thank you. Eric can make his case. My case is very simple. Uh, this is my brother. He's my older brother. He started. He's like a John the Baptist to me. This key here will open this. What about what? You will be the custodian of that key. We are merely requesting a conversation. I understand that passing a bill takes time, and I've been told it requires a statement. There's a motion. It requires a lengthy process. Yes. And I also understand that we're entering an election period. We might not be able to proceed with it now. Thank you. But, uh, KJ is actually the one in charge of that committee. They're at least assuring me of a conversation. If we start talking. Yeah. Yeah. The other gentleman, who is an artist We have over 92% of international content being played on our local channels. Yeah. We have Nigerian music, Tanzanian music, South African music, and less than 10% of Kenyan music is being played, and in December alone, we have 21 international artists performing at major concerts in Kenya, earning millions of shillings, while Kenyan artists are paid only 60,000 and 40,000 shillings, and the reason is because we do not have enough statement That's all I need. Just start the conversation. I know the process is long. That's exactly what we're asking for. So how long do you plan to take? I'll stay here as long as it takes. Conversation about playing seventy percent of Kenyan music. Seventy-five percent. Seventy-five percent of Kenyan content. Yes. In all our local TV. Yes. We'll start the conversation today. I would like to extend a big thank you to Eric for his innovation in advocating as an artist. As you can all see, this is a highly innovative way of petitioning parliament. What Eric is doing is a continuation of a journey. Some of us in the industry have been advocating for this airplay for decades. As you know, our neighbors Tanzania and Uganda are really pushing their local content to the point where artists can live off their art. So even as we initiate a new conversation about the seventy-five percent local content rule, we are asking and inviting Eric and all other artists to join an already ongoing dialogue. That is the Copyright Amendment Bill 2021, introduced in the House by Hon. Gladys Wanga. Gladys Wanga intends to rationalize the royalties paid by Skiza Tunes, which is highly welcome. But in the same breath, she is seeking to repeal section thirty-five of the copyright amendment bill. As an artist, it took blood, sweat, and tears to secure section thirty-five of the copyright. amendment bill. It cannot be taken away for political expediency. So we are calling upon Every artist should contact their member of parliament and tell them that we are demanding Skiza Tunes. Please do not repeal Section Thirty-Five of the Copyright Amendment Bill 2018. Eric, we thank you. There are very few artists who have the courage to do what you have done, but I want you to know that In this house, you have champions. I represent the Greater South Constituency, but my larger The constituency is the visual and performing arts. So I have taken up the job you have given me. I am calling out to you in the house. As you can see this afternoon, I have made it possible. for you to meet other like-minded members of parliament who are willing to support this cause. To the Kenyans out there, it doesn't matter which side of the divide you support. I support the bottom-up model. We cannot implement the bottom-up model without investing money. pockets of seventy-five percent of Kenyans. So even as we are talking about the other hassles, Let us understand that art is a hassle. Good. Thank you so much. Please follow using your digital phone. YouTube Kenya Parliament No, I'll send you the clip. I have your number, my friend. Thank you. Very innovative, very trendy clamoring. Thank you. Every artist is losing 85 percent of their earnings to piracy. So as we are clamoring We would also want her to protect Section 35, which is responsible for guarding Kenya against piracy. against content on terrorism, against child pornography. So as we clamor for the royalties From Skiza Tunes, let us also protect the artists so that we don't take money from their pockets. Eric will present his case. My beauty today, I am Eric Omondi's errand boy. I was here earlier. I was driving into Bunge and I saw this, so I had to come and find out what it was. It was just to find out it was my friend Eric Omondi. And so my job today is being Eric Omondi. errand boy. My job is to go in there, find any member of parliament who is in support of the because Eric Omondi is advocating for them and I bring them out. So the members you see are actually friends of the industry and they are also friends of the youth. You realize that the industry is Actually, a sanctuary for young people. So the MPs you see here are friends of the Kenyan youth.