This archive report was first published on 8 September 2019.
Edwin Gichangi, the immediate former Kenya Cultural Centre Executive Director, was charged in court on Friday, September 6, 2019, with misuse of firearm and threatening staff at the Kenya National Theatre.
According to court documents, Gichangi was arrested and charged with abuse of a firearm and threatening staff at the theatre. The prosecution stated that on varying dates during his time as the centre's director, he threatened one theatre employee, Samuel Muli.
On September 6, 2018, Gichangi was involved in a gun scare with a security officer manning the centre, which was reported at the Central Police Station in Nairobi. He denied the charges before Principal Magistrate Muthoni Nzibe and was released on a Sh300,000 bond.
As part of the charges, Gichangi is accused of forging a letter alleging extension of his contract. The letter, dated April 2, 2018, addressed to 'to whom it may concern,' claims that his term was extended by immediate former KCC board chairman Nicholas Moipei. However, Moipei has denied writing or signing such a document and has termed it a forgery.
The Kenya Cultural Centre has accused Gichangi of refusing to hand over property and imprests worth over Sh12 million belonging to the centre upon the expiry of his contract. This includes two vehicles – a Jeep worth approximately Sh8 million and a Sh4 million Toyota Hiace.
The centre had advertised for the position of the Executive Director, marking an end to a leadership feud that had beleaguered the centre for over a year and a half. The declaration of the vacancy of the position followed the lapse of a contract of the immediate occupant of the office, Mr. Gichangi, on August 31.
