This archive report was first published on 21 August 2019.
Keroche Breweries Owners Face Tax Fraud Charges ¶
On August 21, 2019, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Hajji ordered the arrest and prosecution of Tabitha Karanja and her husband Joseph Karanja, owners of Keroche Breweries, for allegedly evading KSh 14.4 billion in taxes.
According to reports, the KRA had been investigating the company's tax evasion claims since January 2015 to June 2019, during which time the company allegedly failed to pay taxes amounting to KSh 14,451,836,375.
Following the completion of the investigation, the KRA's chief commissioner submitted a report to the DPP's office on August 18, 2019, recommending the prosecution of the Keroche Breweries owners.
"After completing the investigation, the KRA's chief commissioner submitted a report to the DPP's office on August 18, 2019, recommending the prosecution of the Keroche Breweries owners," the report stated.
"The investigation found that Keroche Breweries had evaded paying taxes amounting to KSh 14,451,836,375," the report added.
It is worth noting that Humphrey Kariuki, a billionaire, has also been implicated in a separate tax evasion case involving Africa Spirits, which is accused of evading KSh 41 billion in taxes.
Through his lawyers, Kariuki denied any involvement in the tax evasion case, stating that he had resigned as the chairman of the company.
He was arrested and charged on August 19, 2019, and later released on a KSh 11 million bond.
