Kenyan boy band, Sauti Sol, has threatened to drag former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, and his presidential campaign team, ‘Azimio La Umoja One Kenya’, for alleged musical copyright infringement by using one of their songs, “Extravaganza,” as a soundtrack during the unveiling of NARC Party leader, Martha Karua, as the coalition’s running mate.

In a statement issued by the popular band’s management team on Monday, the group claimed that the action taken by Odinga’s Azimio’s campaign team infringed on their right to property as is “guaranteed in Article 4 of the Constitution of Kenya.”

“It has come to our attention that the Azimio la Umoja campaign through its flagbearer and presidential candidate, the Right Hon. Former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga’s social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram) have without license nor authority used one of our more popular original compositions, “Extravaganza,” as a soundtrack to the announcement post of the running mate,” part of the statement read.

The music group added that the action of the former Prime Minister who is running for President in August presidential election, has infringed on their fundamental rights to property and freedom of association.

“We are disappointed by the Azimio La Umoja Campaign’s blatant disregard of our right to control the use of our copyright. We shall be seeking legal remedy for this clear violation of our copyright,” the band management maintained.

However, Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), in a
statement released on Tuesday, stated that its decision to use one of Sauti Sol’s popular songs during the naming of its running mate was an appreciation of the group’s success.

“We would like to assure our celebrated musical team, Sauti Sol, that we love them & appreciate their music so much. The group has carried our country’s flag so high in international fora and every Kenyan appreciates this. Playing their song was a show of love for their work,” ODM stated.

The Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) has also faulted the Odinga campaign team, saying it erred in using Souti Sol’s song during the unveiling of Karua as the presidential running mate.

In a statement on Tuesday, KECOBO noted that “Azimio only obtained a Public Performance License that allows them to play both local and international music at its rallies and events which is issued by the Collective Management Organisation, but the use of sound recording with a soundtrack with visual images in a film, video, television show, commercial, or other audio-visual production was not part of the license that was obtained by the Raila Odinga-led faction.”

The song, “Extravaganza” was released in 2019 where the group featured a number of artists including Nviiri, Bensoul, Crystal Asige, and Kaskazini and shot them to international limelight as we as placing the group among the most sought after musical acts from Africa.