The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has filed a lawsuit seeking to recover Ksh.22.7 million from former Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) CEO Dr. Ezekiel Mutua over alleged illegal salary increments and allowances. The anti-graft agency claims that Mutua unlawfully benefited from unauthorized pay hikes and allowances during his tenure at KFCB.
According to EACC, Mutua’s monthly salary was irregularly increased to Ksh.1.1 million, exceeding the Ksh.480,000 cap set by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC). Additionally, the commission alleges that he received a monthly entertainment allowance of Ksh.100,000 from 2016 until his departure from KFCB in 2021, an amount deemed unlawful.
The lawsuit, filed at the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Court, also implicates 12 former KFCB board members for allegedly colluding with Mutua to approve the controversial salary increments and allowances. The board members named in the case include Bishop Jackson Kosgei, who served as KFCB chairman from 2015 to 2017 and is now a nominated MP, as well as David Lebayleyia, Nehemiah Maina, Normandy Ogola, Khadija Omar Rama, Katua Nzile, Chris Solomon Nambaga, Christiana Saiti, Ernest Kerich, and Abraham Koech.
“For failing to take reasonable measures to prevent the loss of public funds, the first defendant (Mutua) abused office to enrich himself unjustly,” the court documents state. “For failing to safeguard the funds of the board and act in its best interest, the second to 13th defendants abused public office to confer a benefit to the first defendant.”
EACC is now demanding the recovery of Ksh.22,658,085, which Mutua allegedly received as salary between April 2019 and July 2021, along with Ksh.4,600,868 in entertainment allowances from March 2016 to July 2021.
Mutua, who currently serves as the CEO of the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK), has yet to publicly respond to the allegations. The case underscores the ongoing crackdown on corruption and financial mismanagement in public institutions by the EACC.
