Willis Raburu Wants EABL Licence Revoked in Row Over Sh10 Million Debt

Media personality Willis Raburu has escalated his dispute with East African Breweries Limited to the High Court, accusing the regional beer maker of failing to pay him Sh10 million for a nationwide promotional campaign he says he executed in full.

Raburu, through his company Steizon Limited, is seeking the suspension of EABL’s operating licence until the disputed amount is settled. He says the brewer has violated his rights, breached the contract and exposed him to debts owed to artistes and service providers who participated in the campaign.

Court filings show Raburu was contracted to run promotional activities under the BebaBeba banner, part of the wider Furaha City Festival Event held on December 7, 2024.

He says he recruited and deployed dozens of artistes and brand influencers who travelled across the country promoting EABL products and interacting with consumers, only for the brewer and its marketing partner, Game Changer Marketing Limited, to withhold payment long after the campaign ended.

Raburu says the prolonged delays have strained his relationships with creatives who supported the project and are now demanding their dues, adding that the situation has caused reputational damage and personal distress.

Steizon Limited wants the court to compel EABL to deposit the Sh10 million in court pending determination of the case, arguing that the impact of the debt has been felt by families of artistes who relied on the work.

In a statement released Wednesday morning, Raburu confirmed that the matter is now formally before the courts, saying creatives must be protected from what he terms systemic neglect.

“EABL is now formally before court. We MUST protect creatives. This morning, together with my legal team led by Danstan Omari, we filed pleadings arising from prolonged non-payment and breach of contract,” he said.

He added that he is seeking declarations on the validity of the contract, recovery of outstanding sums with interest, damages and regulatory review, including consideration of the brewer’s operating licence pending full settlement of what he maintains is lawfully owed.

“This is not punitive. It is procedural. Licences exist to uphold standards of compliance and accountability. Where obligations from accepted work remain unresolved, the law provides for pause and review to protect the integrity of the system,” he said.

Raburu insisted that court action was the last resort after more than a year of what he describes as good-faith engagement with the involved parties.

“Court was not a first resort. After over a year of good-faith engagement, this was the final step. We MUST protect creatives at all costs,” he said.

EABL and Game Changer Marketing Limited have been listed as respondents. The matter awaits directions from the duty judge.