KECOBO’s Edward Sigei to Leave Office After a Tumultuous 9 Years at the Helm
Edward Sigei, the executive director of the Kenya Copyrights Board (KECOBO), has commenced his terminal leave as the process to find his replacement begins.
Mr. Sigei’s nine-year leadership at KECOBO will come to a close on June 30th, marking the vacancy of his position.
The Board of Directors at KECOBO is presently evaluating 21 submissions received after the application deadline of May 25, 2024. They aim to shortlist candidates before interviews begin in mid-next month.
“The advertisement for the position attracted considerable interest with a total of 21 applications received. Of the 21 applications, four were from female candidates and 17 were from male candidates… It is expected that a substantive CEO will be recruited before the end of June 2024 to ensure a smooth transition,” reads part of a statement seen by Showbuzz.
The board has granted Mr. Sigei’s request to start his terminal leave on May 20, 2024, as per their approval.
Mr. George Nyakweba, the deputy, will assume control following Sigei’s exit until a permanent CEO is hired.
The introduction of a new CEO is expected to resolve the ongoing conflicts between Mr. Sigei and the Collective Management Organisations (CMOs) such as MCSK, PRISK, and KAMP. These organizations have repeatedly accused him of being too controlling in his oversight of the CMOs, which they argue has hindered their ability to effectively collect and distribute royalties to artists.
Last year, the Chief Marketing Officers initiated a campaign to oust Sigei from his position, alleging that he had exceeded his term limit.
However, Ababu Namwamba, the Minister for Youth Sports and Arts, supported Mr. Sigei’s term, stating that it adhered to the guidelines outlined in the Copyright Act.
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As outlined in Section 11 of the legislation, the executive director’s tenure spans four years initially, and there exists the option for reappointment for an additional term.
Last year, during their appearance before the Sports and Culture Committee, MCSK, PRISK, and KAMP advocated for the removal of Mr. Sigei from his position.
“Mr Sigei has overstayed in office and should be sacked or transferred elsewhere to allow for maximum collection of fees. We hear that the KECOBO boss has godfathers in government, so the president should speak on the matter,” MCSK CEO Ezekiel Mutua implored the committee.
However, in a report presented by CS Namwamba to the identical committee, he offered support for Sigei’s term in office.
“The executive director served his first term from June 1, 2016, to May 31, 2019, due to the absence of the board. The Attorney General, under whose authority the Kenya Copyright Board was then operating, extended the term for six months pending the reconstitution of the board,” reads part of the report.
Mr. Sigei was appointed on May 30, 2019, in an interim position as outlined in his appointment letter, which specified six months.
After the Board was reconstituted on October 30, 2019, Mr. Sigei’s tenure was prolonged by seven months by the Board to facilitate a performance assessment.
Afterward, the board opted to extend the executive director’s tenure for an additional four years, commencing on July 26, 2020, and concluding on June 30, as stated in the report.
KECOBO’s Edward Sigei to Leave Office After a Tumultuous 9 Years at the Helm