Sakaja on the spot as 'Battle of the Choirs' festival suppliers decry unpaid dues

A storm is brewing behind the scenes of one of Nairobi County's most celebrated music showcases, the Battle of the Choirs (BOTC) Festival.

A coalition of unpaid suppliers and creative professionals has come forward demanding compensation for work rendered during the 2023 and 2024 editions of the festival.

In a strongly worded press statement released on Tuesday, the suppliers accused event organizers of failing to pay for services ranging from PR and production to branding and marketing—despite repeated follow-ups and promises.

The tipping point came after Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja publicly declared on June 8, 2025, that “no one is owed” any payments related to the festival.

The suppliers have refuted this claim, calling it “false” and saying it disregards over two years of unpaid labour.

“We were there. We worked. We delivered,” reads the statement issued by the group, which includes dozens of young professionals who contributed to both Season 1 and Season 2 of the BOTC festival.

According to the suppliers, only one service provider was compensated in 2024, while the rest have been ignored—despite returning for a second season “in good faith,” assuming payments would follow. They allege that emails, calls, and polite follow-ups were met with silence.

“This is no longer just about money,” the group emphasized. “It is about accountability, integrity, and respect for the creative professionals who made BOTC a success. We are not invisible. We are not expendable.”

The suppliers say they were motivated by the festival’s promise and vision, believing in a platform that showcased local talent while giving professionals behind the scenes a meaningful opportunity. But now, they say, the dream has turned into a nightmare of broken promises.

“You asked us to believe in your dream. We did. You asked us to deliver. We did. Now we ask you to do the right thing: Honor your word. Pay your debt. Restore trust,” they stated.