CAREERSPERSON OF INTEREST

Njeri Karago: Meet New KFCB Chairperson

Share
Njeri Karago was honored for her contribution to the Kenyan film industry with a Kalasha Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018. [Photo/ Courtesy]
Njeri Karago was honored for her contribution to the Kenyan film industry with a Kalasha Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018. [Photo/ Courtesy]
Share

Njeri Karago’s appointment as the new Chairperson of the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) was confirmed in the latest Kenya Gazette.

Njeri’s appointment by ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru took effect on January 21. She will serve for a three-year period.

Born in 1960, Karago is a renowned film producer behind many classic Kenyan productions. The UCLA alumnus is also currently the  Kenyan Consul-General for the consulate in Los Angeles.

Some of the films she has helmed include the star-studded Disconnect (2018) whose cast included Brenda Wairimu, Nick Mutuma, Pascal Tokodi and Patricia Kihoro. Disconnect was directed by David ‘Tosh’ Gitonga.

Other films she has been involved in as a producer and production manager include Robin Crusoe, Culture Shock, Dangerous Affair and Hidden Blessings. Karago was honored for her contribution to the Kenyan film industry with a Kalasha Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.

She’ll be taking charge of the Board of Directors at KFCB, whose long-serving CEO Ezekiel Mutua was pushed out in August 2021. Mutua left office under the cloud of corruption allegations at KFCB with claims that board members had irregularly awarded themselves payments including allowances.

Mutua was relieved of his duties after six years in charge. Christopher Wambua has been serving as CEO in an Acting Capacity.

The Karago-led board will be charged with appointing a substantive CEO.

Wambua came from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) where he served as Director of Communications and Public Affairs.

Karago will also be keen on ensuring the board serves its mandate, with Mutua’s tenure having attracted more headlines for bans on content deemed unsuitable. The regular bans saw Mutua dubbed Kenya’s ‘Moral Police’ with some stakeholders accusing him of stifling the industry as opposed to supporting it.

Written by
MARTIN SIELE -

Martin K.N Siele is the Content Lead at Business Today. He is also a Quartz contributor and a 2021 Baraza Media Lab-Fringe Graph Data Storytelling Fellow. Passionate about digital media, sports and entertainment, Siele also founded Loud.co.ke

Leave a comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Follow Us

Related Articles
Boda boda jobs in Dubai - Nanny Jobs in Dubai
CAREERSNEWS

The Catch in the 1,100 Dubai Jobs for Boda Boda Riders and Nannies

There is notable excitement in Kenya after the government announced over 1,000...

CBK Monetary Policy Committee
PERSON OF INTEREST

Profiles of the Four New Members of CBK Monetary Policy Committee

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has welcomed on board four new...

Safaricom scholarships for PWDs
CAREERS

Safaricom Software Engineering Scholarships for Youth With Disabilities

Safaricom has unveiled a tech re-skilling program to train young Persons with...

KRA Graduate Trainee Programme
CAREERS

KRA Graduate Trainee Programme Set to Open Campuses Countrywide

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) is set to reintroduce the KRA Graduate...