Ezekiel Mutua fired, Christopher Wambua takes over at KFCB
Dr Ezekiel Mutua has been edged out as the head of Kenya films watchdog and replaced by Christopher Wambua from the Communications Authority of Kenya.
Despite attempts to deny his exit, the Kenya Film and Classification Board confirmed Mr Wambua’s appointment, bringing an end to the abrasive era of Dr Mutua.
Dr Mutua had initially dismissed claims of being fired by Cabinet Secretary for Ministry of Information and communications Joe Mucheru.
“My attention has been drawn to reports on social media to the effect that I have been fired as CEO of KFCB. Please ignore such malicious rumors. I am not aware of such developments and there can be no grain of truth in them as there’s no vacancy in the office of the CEO KFCB,” said Dr Mutua.
Moments later, CS Mucheru confirmed Dr Mutua’s role as the Chief Executive Officer of the parastatal came to an end on Friday, August 6.
Nicknamed deputy Jesus, Dr Mutua’s term has been marked by controversy due to his personal views and acting as a moral police earning him fair share of criticism especially on social media.
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He turned the film’s rating agency into a state censor, banning several movies and celebrity shows for what he considered immoral content.
Recent incident being the ban on Kenyan gay movie Rafiki that brought up a fight with the film producers and directors.
Rafiki was the first-ever Kenyan entry nominated for an award at the Cannes Film Festival in France.
According to Dr Mutua, he described the film as retrogressive and bizarre with messages that are intended to promote homosexuality.
Further, the moral police banned the screening of Hindi gay-themed film, Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan-Extra careful of marriage, which he termed worse than any other before it.
The former KFCB boss said it was an insult to the Kenyan Constitution, laws and culture of the people.
He also banned the movie Wolf of Wall Street and Eric Omondi’s controversial show, Wife Material.
Dr Mutua has also been known to police Kenyan pop music with the case where he ordered the arrest of the Ethic music group and even went ahead to contact Google asking the tech giant to take down their Tarimbo song.
