Ezekiel Mutua has been under siege ever since the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) appointed him as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Mutua was appointed the CEO of MCSK on March 25th, 2022, seven months after Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) dismissed him from his position as its CEO.
KFCB kicked out Mutua in August 2021 after he tried holding onto his position illegally beyond his tenure in office. The former moral cop moved to court in a bid to save his job but on 2nd February 2022 Employment and Labour Relation Court Judge Maureen Onyango dismissed his application.
The judge ruled that the Board erred in appointing Mutua for a further five years when he had exhausted two terms of three years each.
Mutua landed in MCSK after KFCB fired him, but his arrival at the music regulatory body sparked a furious reaction from musicians who are opposed to his appointment.
During his tenure as KFCB CEO, Mutua clashed with so many artistes as he raised the moral bar quite high, a move that made him christened moral cop and even deputy jesus.
Sauti Sol singers Bien and Chimano and comedian Eric Omondi are among the leading artistes who have publicly voiced their opposition to Mutua’s appointment as MCSK CEO.
“Ezekiel Mutua’s appointment is a disappointment. What did he do for film? Kenya continues to elevate mediocrity. This is just sad,” Bien lamented.
“Ezekiel Mutua’s appointment is such nonsense… Recycling bin inc. That’s what we are…” Chimano wrote.
Eric Omondi said that the country takes two steps forward but had gone back four steps with Ezekiel Mutua’s appointment as MCSK CEO.
Kiss FM presenter Oga Obinna has also come out to add more pressure on Mutua. He complained that the MCSK has been paying musicians peanuts as royalties saying the new appointment leaves artists in a state of hopelessness.
“Where we are now, as artists all we have is hope…and hope can’t be a strategy…the last time they sent money we all received a flat rate of 2000…hio ilibidi tuchome nyama!” Obinna said.
