Will the Three Kikuyu Musicians Really Pay For Their Crimes?!

Three Kikuyu musicians were on Wednesday charged with making hateful utterances and utterances that might inspire hatred. The songs are also believed, in interpretation, to incite violence and in one case, murder. John DeMathew, Kamande wa Kioi and Muigai wa Njoroge were charged and released Kshs. 100,000 bail each. The cases will be heard between 6th and 10th of August.

The cases will most likely actually put them in the public eye and thus gain them and their music more attention. Isn’t that what artistes need in the first place? So, the question is, what do they have to lose in the case? If the three are found guilty, they will likely face a jail term NOT EXCEEDING three years or a fine somewhere around Kshs. 900,000. Is that really enough?

Some of the songs presented in the case had already been around for years, meaning there are a lot of people who had listened to them and had no problem with the lyrics. There’s a chance they will now get even more likeminded fans. Inevitably, the artistes will get out with the fines, free media mentions and maybe a larger following. So, does the case just serve as a Kshs. 900,000 advertisment for the artistes?

The only thing the case might do is serve as a warning to musicians who cannot raise the money and think a three-year jail term is not worth the publicity. If the three musicians come out of the whole thing with nothing but wrist slaps, it might start giving other fairly wealthy musicians ideas.