Scores of musicians drawn from Mount Kenya region have formed a Savings and Credit Cooperative Society (Sacco) which they intend to use as a vehicle of bettering their social welfare.
On Saturday, both secular and gospel musicians converged at a Murang’a hotel where they formed a Sacco which they christened Tamco.
During the event which was graced by several political leaders including Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria, the county woman representative Sabina Chege, nominated MP Maina Kamanda among others, the musicians vowed to forget their differences and work together for their own benefit.
In the past, differences among the musicians have persisted even to a point of denying them a chance to meet President Uhuru Kenyatta despite being invited to State House four months ago.
Efforts to form a Sacco by the musicians started eight years ago but bad blood between some of them blocked the idea.
Veteran musicians like Peter Kigia, John De Mathew, Musaimo wa Njeri among others were requested to bring together all aged and upcoming singers to better the music industry in the region.
Kamanda said after the musicians have sobered up they can have an opportunity to meet the President, who recognised their efforts in his re-election campaign in 2017.
“It’s up to you to sober up and be orderly so as to get support from various quarters. The president during burial of veteran musician Joseph Kamaru promised to meet you but due to your differences, the invitation was postponed”, noted Kamanda.
He revealed that the President has also promised to support Kamaru’s children. The musician passed now in 2018.
On his part, governor Wa Iria requested all local musicians to support the Sacco through savings and investments as a forum to nurture their growth.
The Sacco, wa Iria added can be a better platform to market and guide upcoming musicians cautioning them from engaging in petty politics.
“The county of Murang’a has been leading in terms of cooperatives. Various groups have formed Saccos and invested heavily in development projects and musicians should not be left out,” added the governor.
Meanwhile on politics, Kamanda claimed that majority of Mount Kenya residents were interested in a review of constitution to help the country prosper and would stand in support of President Kenyatta.
Kamanda in reference to recent utterances by Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria said it was disrespectful for the young to talk ill of their brothers, adding that Kenyatta was politically in charge of the region.
“There is no leadership vacuum and we would not allow insults aimed at Kenyatta, who stood with the community during the post-election violence,” he said.
Murang’a governor said in the referendum, he would be pushing for equitable sharing of resources in all parts of the country, adding that he would support development programmes.
He said an acceptable formula should be anchored in the constitution adding that the present formulae was not factual.
By Bernard Munyao
Mt. Kenya Musicians form Sacco to better their social welfare
