Joshua Kutuny, Chairman of the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO) accused of incompetency

Ezekiel Mutua, the former CEO of the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB), has accused President William Ruto of appointing corrupt and incompetent people to office; saying these folks have failed the president.

“Anyone who loves this country must tell the President the truth. He has been failed by his team. He appointed some very corrupt and incompetent people into public office. To some, the appointment was like a license to do corrupt deals and enrich themselves but not to serve,” Ezekiel Mutua said.

Mutua, a prominent figure in Kenya’s cultural and regulatory landscape, gave an example of Joshua Kutuny, the current Chairman of the Kenya Copyright Board (KECOBO), accusing him of deliberately destabilizing the music sector for personal profit. Adding that Kutuny’s actions were “undermining the very fabric of the industry, causing significant harm to artists and stakeholders alike”

“Look at someone like Joshua Kutuny, the Chairman of the Kenya Copyright Board. He has used his position to wreck havoc on the music industry for personal gain. In blatant display of impunity, he gave the CMO license to something called PAVRISK. Today the court has suspended his illegal decision. But so much damage has been done. Mr. President sack such people. They don’t help your cause. LET KUTUNY GO!” he said.

Mutua, further went to say that Kutuny was exploiting his position at KECOBO to manipulate copyright regulations to favor certain individuals or entities, thereby obstructing fair practices and causing financial losses to artists. This, according to Mutua not only stifles creativity but also jeopardizes the livelihoods of countless musicians and other professionals dependent on the music industry.

Joshua Kutuny is among the political losers that President Ruto rewarded with government jobs. He was appointed in October 2023 for a period of three years.

The accusations leveled by Mutua have ignited a heated debate within Kenya’s cultural and legal circles. Many industry insiders and artists have come forward in support of Mutua’s claims, citing instances of irregularities and opaque dealings within KECOBO under Kutuny’s leadership. Calls for transparency and accountability within the copyright board have intensified, with demands for an independent investigation into the allegations.