Police hunt for Keroche Breweries owners after arrest order

By , K24 Digital
On Wed, 21 Aug, 2019 17:42 | < 1 min read
Tabitha Karanja
Tabitha Karanja is the founder of Keroche Breweries Ltd. PHOTO | COURTESY
Tabitha Karanja is the founder of Keroche Breweries Ltd. PHOTO | COURTESY

Detectives have swarmed Keroche Breweries factory in Naivasha to look for their owners, Ms Tabitha Karanja and her husband Joseph Karanja.

The couple was ordered arrested on Wednesday by the Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji over alleged tax fraud.

Detectives outside Keroche Breweries Ltd in Naivasha after order issued to arrest owners, Ms Tabitha Karanja and her husband Joseph. PHOTO | COURTESY

Mr Haji ordered police to arrest and arraign the duo over alleged Sh14.4 billion tax evasion.

The arrest was based on investigations conducted by Kenya Revenue Authority's Commissioner-General which revealed the beer-making firm allegedly evaded payment of tax totalling Sh14,451,836,375.

The investigation showed that Keroche Breweries failed to pay tax for various products, including Summit beers, Vienna Ice, Crescent Vodka and for stamps collected.

Mr Haji KRA probe showed the firm did not remit to the government Sh12.3 billion for value added tax and Sh2.1 billion for excise duty on the same products.

"Therefore, having independently reviewed the file and applying the provisions of the National Prosecution Policy, I am satisfied that there is sufficient evidence that it is in the public interest to charge the suspects listed herein below with 10 counts of tax fraud," said Mr Haji in the undated press statement.