Keroche Breweries Ltd is set to reopen on Friday, July 29, 2022 after a long tussle with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA),
This follows a ruling on Thursday, July 28, 2022, that ordered the taxman to reopen the Naivasha-based brewery that it had closed in May over a tax dispute.
"On 28th July 2020, during a mention before Justice Abigail Mshila of an application to cite the Commissioner General Kenya Revenue Authority for contempt of court.
"During the mention the Honourable Judge categorically stated that the application for contempt of Court would be heard by the said judge on 2nd August 2022; and during the hearing, she would not give audience to the Authority's Counsel to address the court unless the Keroche factory is opened immediately.
"Therefore, based on the directions of the Honourable Justice Abigail Mshila, the Keroche factory will be opened tomorrow 29th July 2022 at 11:oo am. You are required to avail yourself at the premises for this purpose," KRA said in a letter to Keroche.
Keroche case
Keroche’s chief executive Tabitha Karanja had gone to court accusing KRA of continuing to fail to obey the order compelling it to reopen the plant with immediate effect.
“Despite being served with High Court orders, KRA is yet to comply with the same and to date, no steps or action has been taken by the tax agency to enforce compliance,” she says.
On July 14, Justice Mabeya directed KRA, its officers, associates and agencies to “unseal the packaging line and stores”.
He further directed KRA to reactivate the exercisable goods management systems and allow Keroche to continue with its business.
