SAUTI SOL TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST AZIMIO COALITION OVER COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT

Popular Kenyan band Sauti Sol has threatened to take legal action against the Azimio La Umoja coalition party over alleged copyright infringement. This is after their hit song ‘Extravaganza’  was played during the unveiling of the party’s presidential running mate Martha Karua at the KICC.

“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,” said Sautisol.

Sauti Sol noted that they do not have any political affiliations, “We did not license this song to the Azimio La Umoja campaign neither did we give any consent for its use in the announcement of their Vice-Presidential candidate.Furthermore, our authority to use the composition, which is one of our most distinctive composition was neither sought nor given.The blatant  copyright infringement as directed by section 35 CAP 170 of the copyright Act of Kenya.”

We would like to make it very clear to our fans, partners and associates, we are not aligned to nor associated with the Azimio La Umoja Campaign or any other Political Movement and/or Party, their Presidential aspirants, Vice Presidential aspirants and candidates at large. We are fully apolitical,” the statement read.

The band promised to pursue legal action against the Azimio Coalition for violating the band’s intellectual property rights. “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.”