This archive report was first published on 15 August 2019.
On August 15, 2019, Kenyan tycoon Humphrey Kariuki stepped down as Chairman of his group of companies, Janus Continental Group (JCG), amidst allegations of evading taxes amounting to Sh41 billion.
According to a statement by JCG Chief Human Resources Officer Hellen Akello, Kariuki made the decision to voluntarily step down as Chair of the Board of JCG and its associate businesses to focus on challenging the baseless claims in courts.
Managing Director Margaret Mbaka has taken over Kariuki's role in an interim capacity, with support from CEO Rikin Shah.
Janus Continental Group is an international conglomerate operating in eight countries, with nine top brands employing over 2,000 people.
The State has sought an international warrant of arrest for Kariuki, who is believed to be in Cyprus, and is also seeking to repossess his assets, including a five-star hotel in Nanyuki and a multi-billion-shilling mall in Nairobi.
