This archive report was first published on 8 August 2019.
On January 30, officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) received information about a truck and trailer suspected of transporting uncustomised goods. After conducting surveillance, the officers trailed the truck and trailer to the premises of Africa Spirits/WOW Beverages, where they intercepted it.
A multi-agency team comprising officers from DCI and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) conducted a joint operation in the presence of the company employees and found 80 drums of suspected uncustomised ethanol. On January 31, the team collected samples of the consignment, which were later found to be ethanol spirit.
According to the Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji, a KRA audit revealed that Africa Spirits/WOW beverages had evaded payment of tax in the amount of over Sh41 billion between 2014 and 2019. The audit also found evidence of tampering with the production system at the Africa Spirits factory, leading to the submission of false declarations to KRA.
As part of the investigation, the multi-agency team found counterfeit excise stamps containing 24,000 pieces and 41,703 cartons of assorted alcoholic drinks affixed with counterfeit excise stamps.
The Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji says he has gathered sufficient evidence to prosecute Humphrey Kariuki Ndegwa and Stuart Gerald (Directors WOW beverages), Peter Njenga Kuria (Director Africa Spirits), Robert Thinji Murithi (Director WOW beverages), Geofrey Kinoti (Director Africa Spirits), Sethu Prabhu (Assistant production manager Africa Spirits), Eric Nzomba (Driver), and Kepha Gakure (Tax manager Africa Spirits) for the seven separate charges.
