Just hours after he was sent on compulsory leave yesterday morning pending his retirement later this year, @EACCKenya has swung into action, further compounding the woes of the moral policeman.
With his departure effected, the controversial KFCB boss leaves office with his head down, barely two months to the end of his second term.
During his stint, the KFCB boss always cut the figure of a saint. Then details emerged that the institution’s board had deliberated renewal of his contract, which was due to expire on October 25, for a third term of five years.
Yesterday, @EACCKenya asked @InfoKfcb chairman to furnish it with personal files of Dr Mutua, all payments of salaries and allowances and KFCB Human Resource Policy and Procedures manual guiding the increment of salaries and allowances.
Together with another board member, Ms Gathoni Kungu, the duo are in EACC’s radar over allegations of receiving irregular payments. The position gave Dr Mutua power to rate and classify films and songs. His words had the final say in the art scene.
Upon assuming office in 2015, he wielded power through bravado, enjoying the limelight and garnering praises and criticism alike.
Dr Mutua always made decisions about faith, culture and morality, and that "offensive content" in films that he believed could fundamentally impact the culture of the country.
He also believed that he had oversight over other audio-visual output on TV and online platforms, but some disputed.
He definitely enjoyed being at the helm of power.
And when the end of his tenure was nigh, details emerged that he sought reprieve by orchestrating plans to extend his current term before it expired through a minute discussed by the board. As fate would have it, by seeking more, he lost the little left with him.
The board asked Mr Mutua to proceed on terminal leave, pending his retirement on October 25. They appointed Mr Christopher Wambua to replace him in acting capacity.
The State Corporations Advisory Committee (SCAC) in a letter dated June 30 addressed to @MoICTKenya CS @mucheru called for Dr Mutua’s immediate departure and disciplinary action against the Board.
It’s report said Dr Mutua, popularly known as the country’s “moral police” , was being awarded irregular salaries and allowances. It called for his dismissal.
However, he remained unbothered. Dr Mutua had earlier on Twitter dismissed rumours of him being fired. “I am not aware of such development and there can be no grain of truth on them as there’s no vacancy in the office of the CEO KFCB.”
The following paragraphs have been rated GE, and they are, therefore, suitable for general family reading. - @NationAfrica
However, because they tell the story of a moral policeman who is being accused of not being too moral with term limits and public funds, some sentences may upset taxpayers below the age of 120.
The paragraphs are about @EzekielMutua Nyithya, the man who – since his appointment as CEO of @KFCBarstool in October 2016 – became a moral policeman with something to say on events, adverts, films, songs, pastors, name it.
A Ugandan company that Deputy President William Ruto claimed this week he had helped to get Sh15B loan to set up a factory had its accounts frozen on suspicion of money laundering at around the same time the credit facility was advanced to it. - @NationAfrica
While the information surrounding the money laundering accusations against Dei Pharmaceuticals has remained a tightly guarded secret....
....President Yoweri Museveni waded into the matter on June 4, 2020, accusing State figures in Uganda of undermining his authority by flagging and stopping inflows of billions of shillings to the company’s accounts.
.@InfoKfcb has appointed Christopher Wambua as its acting chief executive officer effective August 6. - @NationAfrica
Paskal Opiyo, the acting chief manager of corporate services, informed staff of the appointment in an internal memo on Friday.
The appointment follows an investigation into CEO Ezekiel Mutua, over alleged payment of irregular salaries and allowances. @EACCKenya has been investigating Mutua since May 6.
Ethiopia has cleared the way for @SafaricomPLC to introduce its popular M-Pesa in the market of 110M people after deciding to include the mobile phone-based financial services in the telco’s licence offered in May. - @BD_Africa
Ethiopian authorities told @BD_Africa that the @SafaricomPLC licence will be upgraded to include mobile financial service when it completes bidding for its second telecoms operator permit. The bidding will be opened this month.
A consortium led by @SafaricomPLC secured the first licence, which doesn'tt have a permit for mobile financial services like M-Pesa, in May. The consortium will start ops next year when Ethiopian authorities say the telco will have the right to operate mobile financial services.
.@KarauriR a jovial, flashy former pilot at Kenya Airways, never saw himself as the man who would fly SportPesa from a small struggling company into East Africa’s largest betting firm. - @NationAfrica
.@KarauriR needs no introduction to Kenyans after his public role as the @SportPesa CEO.
A passionate poker player and son of a politician, Karauri first met Guerassim Nikolov, the controversial and principal @SportPesa founder, at a poker table on the first floor of the dimly lit Finix Casino in Hurlingham, Nairobi in 2014.
.@WorldAthletics President Sebastian Coe believes the steeplechase is still very much a Kenyan event despite Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali breaking the stranglehold by winning the #OlympicGames gold here last Monday. - @EliasMakori
Kenya has dominated the water jump and barriers race since 1968 when Amos Biwott won the Olympic Games gold in Mexico.