Ezekiel Mutua, the former head of the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB), has been ordered to repay the government Ksh.27 million that he received as a salary increase during his second term.
The State Corporations Appeal Tribunal found that Mutua had been granted an unjustified salary raise from Ksh.348,840 to Ksh.1.1 million over a three-year period. The Inspectorate of the State Corporations revealed that his contract was renewed in 2018, despite the Sports Cabinet Secretary’s refusal to extend his term.
The inspectorate criticized the KFCB board for unlawfully increasing the CEO’s salary on a “personal to self” basis, asserting that Mutua should be held accountable since he was part of the board that made this decision.
Furthermore, it was noted that salary adjustments should adhere to the guidelines set by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC). The Cabinet Secretary had reportedly rejected the salary increase and instructed the board to recover the funds, but the KFCB did not act on this directive, prompting the Tribunal’s involvement.
In his defense, Mutua maintained that he was not at fault, claiming that the board had authorized both his second term and the salary increment. He argued that he continued to perform his duties without any objections from the Cabinet Secretary, leading him to believe that his appointment and salary were legitimate.
After considering the arguments from both sides, the Tribunal concluded that Mutua, along with Nehemiah Koech, a board member who supported the salary increase, was responsible for facilitating the irregular pay hike.
