Azimio la Umoja presidential flag bearer Raila Odinga’s party has responded to threats from the boys’ band Sauti Sol after it threatened to sue the outfit for using their song illegally.
On Monday, May 16, the award-winning Kenya music band, accused Azimio la Umoja of using their much-coveted track ‘Extravaganza’ without their consent and threatened to seek legal remedy.
However, in a statement on Tuesday, May 17, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) said that the song was played in good faith as a show of love for Sauti Sol.
The Orange party further heaped praises on the Sauti Sol band saying that it has carried the country’s flag high both locally and internationally and that the Azimio played their song to appreciate their music.
“We would like to assure our celebrated musical team, Sauti Sol, that we love them and 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 yesterday was a show of love for their work,” ODM said in a Tweet.
The political outfit used the song during the official unveiling of Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua as former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s running mate at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC).
In a statement on Monday, May 16, the band accused the coalition of using their song saying it was a blatant copyright infringement as directed by section 35, CAP 170 of the Copyright Act of Kenya.
“We did not license this song to the Azimio la Umoja Campaign neither did we give any for its use in the announcement of their Vice-Presidential Candidate. Furthermore, our authority to use the composition, which is one of our most distinct compositions was neither sought nor given,” the band said.
