This archive report was first published on 13 August 2019.
Wanted Billionaire Humphrey Kariuki Steps Down as Janus Continental Group Chairman ¶
On August 13, 2019, Humphrey Kariuki, a wanted billionaire, stepped down as the chairman of Janus Continental Group, a company with interests in energy, real estate, hospitality, and conservation.
According to a statement from the company's human resource department, Kariuki's decision to step down was due to the ongoing investigation process. The statement was signed by Hellen Akello, Chief Human Resource Officer Janus Continental Group.
As a result of Kariuki's departure, Managing Director Margaret Mbaka will take over as the Acting Chair of the Board, with the support of Chief Executive Officer Rikin Shah.
Janus Continental Group has a significant presence in the energy sector, with key projects in Zambia, Kenya, Uganda, and Mozambique. The company also operates Dalbit Petroleum, which provides services to various sectors in the African region.
Despite Kariuki's departure, the company remains under scrutiny due to allegations of tax evasion amounting to Sh41 billion and other charges preferred against him by Director of Public Prosecution Noordin Haji.
As part of the investigation, detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have been searching for assets linked to Kariuki, including his 5-star hotel, a multi-million shilling mall, private planes, and bank accounts of 31 firms associated with him.
