NAIROBI — The polite veneer of Kenya’s entertainment industry cracked wide open on Wednesday as media heavyweight Willis Raburu filed a high-stakes lawsuit against East African Breweries Limited (EABL) and Game Changer Marketing Limited. In a move that has sent shockwaves through corporate boardrooms, Raburu is not just demanding KES 10 million in unpaid fees; he is asking the High Court to suspend the brewer’s operating license until the debt is settled.

The suit, filed under a certificate of urgency at the Milimani Commercial Court, marks the end of what Raburu describes as a frustrating 12-month diplomatic effort to recover funds for the Furaha City Festival, held in December 2024. For a year, the former news anchor claims he tried to resolve the matter quietly. Now, represented by the combative lawyer Danstan Omari, he is taking the battle public, framing it as a definitive stand against the exploitation of Kenya’s creative economy.

The 'Ghost' Contract

At the heart of the dispute is a frenetic 24-hour period leading up to the festival on December 7, 2024. Court documents reveal that Raburu’s company, Steizon Limited, was allegedly contracted on December 6—just one day before the event—to pull off a logistical miracle. The mandate was sweeping: digital amplification, influencer marketing, security coordination, and on-ground event management.

Raburu’s legal team argues that while Steizon Limited signed the contract, the defendants—EABL and its agency, Game Changer Marketing—never physically appended their signatures. However, in a classic case of "performance over paperwork," Raburu contends the contract is binding because the work was fully executed. The defense, according to early indications, may hinge on this technicality: that without a countersignature, there was no deal.

“The law upholds agreements where offer, acceptance, and performance are evident,” Omari argued outside the court, dismissing the unsigned contract defense as a corporate loophole used to strangle small businesses.

By the Numbers: A Digital Blitz

To prove that the "contract by conduct" was valid, Steizon Limited has tabled an exhaustive list of deliverables they claim were met and even exceeded. The sheer volume of work described in the affidavit paints a picture of a massive operation mobilized overnight:

• 42 Influencers Deployed: A combined reach of 18 million followers was activated to hype the event.
• Content Factory: Production of over 60 video reels and 100 static posts.
• Viral Impact: 127 pieces of branded content generating 46 million impressions across TikTok, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter).
• On-Ground Presence: Raburu personally hosted the stage for eight hours, while his team managed security and logistics for the 120,000-strong crowd.

Despite this, Raburu alleges that since the last microphone was switched off in December 2024, he has not received a single shilling. The KES 10 million (approx. USD 76,000) debt, while a rounding error for a regional giant like EABL, is a lifeline for an SME like Steizon.

The Human Cost of 'Exposure'

The lawsuit peels back the curtain on the precarious nature of the "gig economy" in Kenya. Raburu is not just suing for profit; he claims to be shielding a vast ecosystem of creatives who are breathing down his neck. The unpaid sum has reportedly left dancers, hype men, security guards, and content creators—who were subcontracted by Steizon—without their dues for a whole year.

“This has caused not only financial loss but severe reputational damage,” Raburu’s lawyers noted. “His brand is at the mercy of EABL simply because they have stronger financial muscle.” The narrative is clear: when a giant sneezes, the small creative catches a cold. By withholding payment, the defendants have allegedly forced Raburu into a corner where his credibility with suppliers is on the line.

The boldest prayer in the lawsuit—seeking to revoke EABL’s license—is likely a legal strategy to force a quick settlement, but it underscores the severity of the grievance. It signals that the plaintiff is willing to threaten the jugular of the defendant's business operations to get their attention.

As the case awaits a hearing date, the industry is watching closely. For Raburu, this is no longer just about a paycheck; it is a precedent-setting fight for respect. “People must begin to respect the creators of this country,” Raburu told the press. “Whether big corporations or SMEs, everyone must pay for the work done. We must protect the creatives.”