Citizen TV Responds After OJ Rant Over Tahidi High Episodes

Former Tahidi High Actor Dennis Mugo (left) and a road sign of Citizen TV
Former Tahidi High Actor Dennis Mugo (left) and a road sign of Citizen TV
File

Citizen TV station has responded to former Tahidi High actor Dennis Mugo (popularly OJ) following his outburst around reruns of the show.

Speaking exclusively to Kenyans.co.ke, a highly placed source from the station explained that the actors had signed contracts in order to perform on the show with full knowledge that it would be property of the station.

He further added that the contract the actors signed at the time was a standard operation in the industry just like in other companies.

"He (OJ) acknowledged that the contract was such that the content belongs to Citizen TV. The contract is very clear. Employment contracts are just employment contracts," explained the source.

File image of Abel Mutua (2nd from left) with other members of the old cast of Tahidi High
File image of Abel Mutua (2nd from left) with other Tahidi High cast members, Shish (centre), Tanya (second right) and OJ
YouTube

He further explained that contracts of future projects were open for negotiations, but as of now, those from yesteryears have to remain put.

"When people are signing contracts, they can negotiate them. One can review contracts in the future, but for now, Citizen TV does not owe anything because the contract is very clear that the content is owned by the station," he confided in this writer.

In an episode on Saturday, September 19, the actor claimed that he was not aware the station was airing reruns of the show.

OJ further admitted that the show had the right to air the episodes as they owned the rights to the show, but accused the Kilimani-based broadcaster of offering them predatory contracts, something the station has denied.

He also took an issue with the reruns arguing that some of the stars from the episodes had already passed away, while others had switched careers.

A lawyer from Khaminwa & Khaminwa Advocates explained to Kenyans.co.ke that depending on the contract, the actors could choose to sue the station, but in this case, the move was off the table since they were employed by the station to produce the content at the time.

 "If they recorded for the station, and it is owned by the station, there is no way they can go ahead and sue the station because they were employed to produce it.

"If there was a contract, they executed it and they were paid, they cannot come later and start claiming the money and yet the contract lapsed," stated the lawyer.

"In order to avoid (wrangles) parties can get into the contract and agree that content can be reused later," he concluded.

Dennis Mugo AKA OJ during the shooting of his YouTube show in August 2020.
Dennis Mugo AKA OJ during the shooting of his YouTube show in August 2020.
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