Kenyan Nominated Senator and artist Crystal Asige has testified in person in her ongoing court case against Sauti Sol and their record label Sol Generation Records, marking a major milestone in a lawsuit that has gripped Kenya’s entertainment industry.
The case, filed in 2022, accuses the award-winning band of discrimination, exploitation, and violation of intellectual property rights during Asige’s time under their label.
Asige: “I Was Exploited and Excluded”
In her detailed witness statement, Asige narrated how she joined Sol Generation in 2019, relocating from Mombasa to Nairobi at her own cost after being promised mentorship and a recording contract.
However, she claims the promises were never fulfilled. Instead, she says she worked on songwriting and recording sessions without pay, even as her creative contributions boosted the label’s brand.
“I was promised growth and inclusion, but what I got was exclusion and exploitation,” Asige told the court.
She cited her involvement in the hit song “Extravaganza,” which she says was used to promote Sol Generation as a platform supporting diverse talent.
Claims of Intellectual Property Theft
Asige alleges that members of Sauti Sol — Bien-Aimé Baraza, Polycarp Otieno, Willis Chimano, and Savara Mudigi — used her lyrics and compositions without consent.
She specifically pointed to the track “Intro” from the band’s 2020 album Midnight Train, where she was credited as a co-writer instead of the sole author.
She also accused the label of using her creative work and image in songs such as “Lenga” and “Ukiwa Mbali” without compensation or acknowledgment.
Discrimination Based on Disability
Asige, who is visually impaired, told the court that she was often used for publicity but denied equal access and accommodations in her working environment.
She alleged that her disability was not respected or supported, and that her band was dismissed without pay, effectively cutting off her career growth.
“They celebrated my blindness in the media but excluded me in practice,” she said.
Lawsuit Gains National Attention
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) and several disability rights groups have expressed interest in the case, calling it a defining moment for the protection of artists with disabilities.
The court is expected to hear testimonies from Sauti Sol members in the next session, as the legal battle over intellectual property and discrimination in the music industry continues.
