Njeri Karago: Meet New KFCB Chairperson

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.