MP Ayub Savula seeks orders to bar DCI from arresting his wife Helen Kemboi & himself in tax evasion case

Why MP living in fear of his wife's arrest

Mumbi Mutuko

February 26, 2019 2:19 PM

In fear of police cells

A Woman in prison

Lugari lawmakers Ayub Savula is seeking orders from the court to bar the DCI from arresting him and his wife over alleged tax evasion.

The MP claims that DCI officers are planning to arrest him and Hellen Kemboi when they appear before the Chief Magistrate’s Milimani law courts for the mention of their ongoing criminal case.

Lugari MP Ayub Savula Pulse Live Kenya

According to reports, Mr Savula earned Ksh1 billion from contracts signed with various State agencies in five years through his company, Sunday Publishers Limited.

Tax evasion

Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) in documents filed in court said that the MPs firm received the cash between 2013 and 2017 from the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, the Nairobi County government, Migori County, Mombasa County and the National Land Commission.

According to the KRA, Sunday Publishers which the MP co-owns with his wife filed nil returns despite receiving huge amounts of money.

The probe by KRA saw the Lugari MP slapped with Ksh473 million tax arrears demand, which comprises interest and penalties.

Conspiracy to steal

DCI are investigating the deals which prompted him and his wife to move to court to bar their arrests.

KRA claims that Mr Savula, through his auditor, kept on promising to produce documents to support himself but never produced them, in the process slowing down investigations.

Lugari MP Ayub Savula's wife Hellen Kemboi Pulse Live Kenya

Last year, Mr Savula and his wives were accused of conspiring to steal Ksh122 million from the the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology.

In October 2018, KRA slapped Mr Savula’s firm with a claim for Ksh230.2 million tax, penalties totalling Ksh172.7 million and interest of Ksh70.9 million, bringing the total to Ksh473.8 million.

Mumbi Mutuko