Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) chief executive Ezekiel Mutua has been ordered to pay rapper Nonini Sh3 million in damages after losing a defamation case over remarks made against the musician.
In a judgment dated October 26, 2026, Magistrate J. Gitau awarded Nonini Sh2.5 million in general damages and a further Sh500,000 in exemplary and aggravated damages.
The case arose from a fallout between Nonini and MCSK after the rapper left the organisation in May 2022, citing concerns over royalty payments and the collection and distribution of artists’ earnings.
The dispute resurfaced in January 2024 after MCSK announced plans to distribute Sh20,000 in royalties to its members, sparking public debate over how musicians’ earnings were managed.
Court proceedings show that Nonini later shared information on social media about MCSK’s royalty collections and expenditure.
He accused Mutua of responding with defamatory remarks on social media and during an interview with a local radio station.
Nonini told the court that the statements were false and malicious, arguing that they had damaged his reputation and standing in the music industry.
The rapper, known for hits such as “Manzi wa Nairobi” and “Keroro”, has been a prominent figure in Kenya’s hip-hop scene and has previously raised concerns about fair compensation for musicians.
In addition to the damages, the court ordered Mutua to remove the disputed remarks within the stipulated period and pay the legal costs arising from the case.
