This archive report was first published on 19 August 2019.
Nairobi businessman Humphrey Kariuki was re-arrested on Monday evening, just hours after being released on a Ksh.11 million cash bail.
According to Citizen Digital, Kariuki was apprehended over alleged illegal importation of ethanol at his Thika-based alcoholic drinks manufacturing firm, African Spirits Limited.
Appearing before Magistrate Francis Andayi, Kariuki faced 21 counts of evading taxes amounting to Ksh.41 billion between 2014 and 2019.
He denied the charges contained in three files and was released on a cash bail of Ksh.10 million for the first file and Ksh.500,000 each on the second and third case files.
Magistrate Andayi further directed that Kariuki deposit his travel documents with the court.
On Monday, Kariuki presented himself in court, nearly two weeks after a Nairobi magistrate court issued summons against him.
His lawyer, Kioko Kilukumi, refuted claims that Kariuki had gone into hiding, insisting that he is not a flight risk.
“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.”
