Members of the legendary band Les Wanyika have called upon governor Johnstone Sakaja to protect his fellow musicians.
This in response to multiple cases of harassment from county enforcement officers who often target musicians when punishing venues that are in violation. In a letter dated 3rd October the County liquor board revoked the liquor license of 43 clubs in Nairobi for noise pollution.
This according to Band leader Sijali Zuwa is just one of the many arbitrary moves that victimize musicians.
“I saw Sakaja playing bass guitar during the election period, so he is one of us,” He says. “Now that he is in office we are pleading that he doesn’t forget us, we have suffered for so long. We accept that the law must be followed we just ask that it is enforced through dialogue and engagement.”
Dj’s and bands have in the past been arrested while playing at venues and their equipment confiscated. On matters of noise pollution, the veteran musician is calling on stakeholders to form an inter-sectoral engagement forum to encourage engagement. The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) President Richard Ngatia echoed the same sentiments calling for dialogue.
In a statement dated Monday, October 3, Ngatia noted that he had secured a deal with Nairobi City County Alcoholic Drinks Control and Licencing Board to temporarily halt the directive from being enforced.
“We were actually finalizing details for our ou44th-anniversary celebration when we got the news of the closures,” he explains. “These entertainment spots have fed our families for three generations, and it’s where young musicians also come up. Everything is interconnected, so let’s not destroy one thing to build another.”
Starting their career at Garden Square bar and restaurant on November 25, 1978, the band’s legacy lives on 44 years later. Their most notable hit single, Sina Makosa, was a real-life experience that happened in an entertainment spot.
Similarly, their hit “Kasuku” was a tribute to Armstrong kasuku who owned Garden Square, which was the centre of live performances in its days.
“Let’s use wisdom to solve our problems, solving one problem by creating a bigger one is not the way to go, He added.
“Musicians have been sitting around idle for e over two years first it was Corona and then before we could recover properly the elections disrupted our work.
This is the time we should be recovering, but instead, we are facing more uncertainty. We shall be seeking an audience with decision-makers who emphasize the need to promote our musicians.”
