This archive report was first published on 19 August 2019.
On August 19, 2019, billionaire businessman Humphrey Kariuki finally presented himself at the Milimani Law Courts, nearly two weeks after court summons were issued against him.
Appearing before Magistrate Francis Andayi, Kariuki and his associates, including Stuart Geraid, Simon Maundu, Africa Spirits Limited, and Wow Beverages Limited, were charged with evading taxes amounting to Ksh.41 billion between 2014 and 2019.
They denied all the charges pending their release on bail.
According to the Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji, an audit by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) revealed that Kariuki's company Africa Spirits Limited/WOW Beverages Limited had evaded the payment of tax amounting to Ksh.41,539,038,448 between 2014-2019.
Through his lawyer Kioko Kilukumi, Kariuki told the court that he returned to the country on Sunday night just a day before the court appearance, refuting claims that he had gone into hiding.
“There was no warrant of arrest either local or international issues against him,” Kilikumi argued.
“It is his constitutional rights to be granted bail. We ask you to grant our plea on reasonable bail terms.”
