A veteran Kikuyu gospel artist has lamented rising levels of music piracy in the country which has condemned artists to abject poverty.
Muigai wa Njoroge, also known as 'Kigutha', has blamed the black market for artists' dwindling incomes.
"Most people think we musicians are very rich people as a result of great numbers of fans we have. What they don't know is that our popularity does not translate to real money. We sing but the money goes to pirates, what is left for us is popularity which can't feed you or your family, " said Muigai.
Piracy is the copying and distributing copies of a piece of music without the consent of the composer or recording artist. The musician attributed the vice to the apparent reluctance of many youths to engage in arts as they view the industry as being hostile and unable to feed them.
"Piracy has led to many talented youths not venturing into this industry and the ones who have started giving up as the fruits of their hard labour is stolen from them. If this vice is not tamed, we may lose the future generation of artists, " he cautioned.
He blamed Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) and National Police Service for not being vigilant in the fight against piracy.
Piracy is a criminal offence under Kenyan laws and it is punishable by fines and/or imprisonment.