National holidays in Kenya, such as Labour Day, which will be observed on Monday, frequently allow local artists to earn extra money.
The Permanent Presidential Music Commission is usually involved in selecting musicians who will delight Kenyans attending the event and those watching from home.
However, Sauti Sol, an Afropop band, is not interested in this opportunity. According to Bien-Aimé Baraza of Nairobi News, the band has not performed due to excessive charge rates.
"Because the government cannot afford to pay us, we will never perform at any public holiday celebration." "It's the harsh reality," Bien added.
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Bien went on to say that they last performed at such events in 2011, and they were only paid Sh40,000.
"We were young and growing in the industry at the time." "We just divided the money amongst ourselves," he explained.
In addition, the Inauma hitmaker stated that the band would never promote any political party. Bien also said he would never get involved in politics because his mission is much larger.
"We will always be on the side of the people." "My mission is to give people hope and to sing for them to feel loved, not to engage in politics," he stated.
Last year, the band threatened to sue Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya Coalition for utilizing one of their songs without permission during the campaign.
According to Sauti Sol, Azimio la Umoja used their single Extravaganza on the coalition's social media accounts to hype the presentation of Mr Raila Odinga's presidential running mate, Martha Karua.
The band declared in a statement signed by Bien, Willis Chimano, Polycarp Otieno, and Savara Mudigi that it had not licensed the song to the Azimio la Umoja campaign team.
"We did not permit its use in announcing their vice presidential candidate." Furthermore, our permission to use the composition, which is one of our most distinctive, was neither sought nor granted," Sauti Sol stated.
