DPP lacks new evidence to order for re-arrest of Keroche owners Joseph and Tabitha Karanja

DPP addresses possibility of re-arresting Keroche owners

Mumbi Mutuko

August 30, 2019 9:36 AM

Wayforward

Keroche Breweries CEO Tabitha Karanja (right) and her husband Joseph Karanja

Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji has said he has no intention of re-arresting Keroche Breweries Limited owners.

Tabitha Karanja and her husband Joseph Karanja were arrested and charged over an alleged Sh14.4b tax evasion following orders from the DPP Haji.

State Prosecutor Gikui Gichuhi that the DPP did not have new evidence against the Keroche owners to warrant their arrest and prosecution.

The two had, through lawyer Irungu Kang’ata, filed the application for anticipatory bail.

Keroche owners Tabitha Karanja and her Joseph Karanja Pulse Live Kenya

Vendetta war

Last week, Ms Karanja rubbished allegations that she owes KRA Ksh14 billion in unremitted taxes terming the claims as a new war by her competitors.

"I’m shocked by the new allegations levelled against me, my husband and Keroche Breweries and this is pure malice," Ms Karanja told journalists.

"This is a vendetta war launched by my competitors and am ready to face the taxman and the DPP to prove my innocence (sic)," she added.

She questioned the timing of the arrest orders, just two weeks after she launched the KB Lager noting that the move was meant to intimidate her.

Workers affected

Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui has condemned the manner in which KRA is treating the owners of the company which has employed over 500 people directly.

Keroche owner Tabitha Karanja Pulse Live Kenya

In a statement, the governor said that the onslaught against investors could derail employment and investment opportunities in the county.

Kenyans also took to the social media to lash out at the government and defend the Naivasha-based company noting that this spelt doom for local entrepreneurs.

However, DPP Haji said Kenya Revenue Authority Commissioner-General Githii Mburu submitted an inquiry file to his office on August 18 and an audit which established that Keroche had evaded tax totalling Ksh14,451,836,375.

Mumbi Mutuko