I was Shocked When People Said I Called Artistes Poor – Ezekiel Mutua

Kenya Film Classification Board CEO Dr. Ezekiel Mutua has said that he was shocked when it was reported that he had called Kenyan artsistes poor.

Speaking on Thursday when he appeared on KBC, Mutua said that if some called him poor, what he would do is work hard to prove them wrong.

He went on to say that he would not go ahead to display money, just to show that he is rich.

"I was very shocked when people said I called artistes poor and they are so agitated. If somebody calls me poor I will work so hard to prove them wrong I would not be displaying money," said Mutua.

Comedian Eric Omondi who was in Tanzania for a show had responded to the KFCB boss' words with money on his bed, saying that, that is how Sh3 million looks like.

Speaking during an interview on Thursday last week, Mutua claimed that Eric Omondi was clout chasing after he reportedly gave Bahati Sh200,000 following KFCB’s decision to withdraw their partnership deal with the ‘Mama’ hit maker, worth the same amount.

Mutua, Eric and Kenyan comedians are poor and cannot afford to raise such an amount. He claimed they are engaging in sideshows to create an impression that they can do better than the government when it comes to supporting artists.

“Hakuna pesa alitoa, Omondi ni maskini, hio ni sarakasi tu. Hakuna pesa ya kweli hao wote ni maskini wa kusaidiwa. Omondi hana ata elfu kumi ya kupea watu. Wasanii wanaumia,” he said.

Speaking on KBC, Mutua insisted on the need to have clean content, adding that content does not have to be dirty for one to be creative.

"Life is not about being loved or hated, its about doing what is right. I'm a regulator and the work of a regulator is not to be popular. I'm not out to entertain these characters I'm out to tell them to stick to the law," said Mutua.