I met Gengetone and Urbantone artistes, who shared deeply troubling experiences regarding the loss of rights to their music due to questionable contracts with foreign entities. They have lost over 700 songs, including 'Sipangwingwi', the song by Exray that powered our conversations in 2022. It is regrettable that our young creatives continue to face exploitation despite their immense talent and contribution to our cultural identity. I have facilitated legal support to ensure they are adequately represented in court, and we have agreed on practical measures to safeguard their interests and ensure they receive fair reward for their work. I have also asked the National Assembly, through the Majority Leader, to fast-track the Creative Economy Bill 2026 alongside critical copyright reforms. These measures are necessary to protect our artistes, strengthen intellectual property rights, and secure the future of Kenya’s creative economy. I also informed them that Government has established a digital portal on e-Citizen to aid royalty collection and distribution.(William Samoei Ruto, PhD)