Two months after President Uhuru Kenyatta directed the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage to set aside Sh100 million to cushion local artistes from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, a section of the entertainers now claim they have not received a penny.

The artists regretted that the Ksh.100 million which was to allow them to continue entertaining the public through television, radio and the internet has never landed in their pockets.

Led by Talented Musicians and Composers (TAMCO) Sacco chairman Epha Maina, the artists decried that since the outbreak of Covid-19, they, alongside their families have been suffering serious economic challenges.

Since the closure of churches and other entertainment joints that brought their performances to a halt, the artists lamented that making a livelihood like before has become a daunting task.

“These are hard times for us artists because we are not performing. Churches and entertainment joints were closed and we are thereby not making anything in the form of money. We are now singing in the bathroom because there is no other allowed place to perform,” said Epha Maina.

They decried that order by the government to stop large gatherings to control the spread of Covid-19 further deteriorated their entertainment activities giving their lives a new direction.

“If the largest meeting that can be held is that of 15 people, that tells us to look for alternative sources of livelihood,” said Zachary Wandaro, a Kikuyu gospel artist.

Mike Rua, a secular musician said the money awarded to artists by the President was not conditional and that he had good intentions to support them.

However, the artists complained that those ordered to release the money either delayed or embezzled the funds leaving them to wallow in poverty during the hard Coronavirus season.

“We are yet to get the money and we are not informed on where we shall be receiving the same. We are hungry and broke,” lamented Rua.

The entertainers urged President Kenyatta to intervene and fast-track the process of releasing the money to support them during the hard economic times.

While addressing the nation in April, the Head of State had also announced that all local artistes would also be earning a total of Sh 200 million per month which translates to an annual payment of over Ksh.2 billion.

The artists, under the umbrella of Tamco Sacco, spoke to journalists at Kithyoko village in Machakos County during a visit to needy, elderly persons.