Police launch manhunt for Kenyan business tycoon Humprey Kariuki over substandard ethanol products

Police launch manhunt for Kenyan tycoon

Mumbi Mutuko

February 11, 2019 7:58 AM

On the run

DCI Headquarters along Kiambu road

Multi-millionaire businessman Humprey Kariuki is being sought by authorities over claims of smuggling substandard ethanol products into the country.

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) are looking for Mr Kariuki after they busted smuggled ethanol, 312,000 litres of illicit liquor and 21 million fake Kenya Revenue Authority stamps from a factory owned by his company.

Tax evasion

Reports indicated that Kariuki, who is also wanted for allegedly evading taxes, together with key employees of his company went into hiding on receiving news that police had raided Africa Spirits Limited factory.

Humprey Kariuki Ndegwa Pulse Live Kenya

The DCI alleged that Africa Spirits had been smuggling ethanol of questionable quality used to produce some of its popular vodka, gin, and whisky brands that is unfit for human consumption.

The Kenya Revenue Authority also claimed that the company had failed to remit more than $30 million in taxes.

During the raid, police arrested and detained a production manager at the factory.

Wealth

According to Forbes, Mr Kariuki is the founder of Janus Continental Group, a conglomerate that includes The Hub - a premier shopping mall in Nairobi; Africa Spirits, a leading manufacturer of Alcoholic beverages; Dalbit Petroleum, one of the largest oil distributors in East and Southern Africa.

Humprey Kariuki Ndegwa Pulse Live Kenya

He is also the founder of the and Great Lakes Africa Energy, a U.K-based company that is a developer and operator of power projects in Southern Africa.

Additionally, the multi-millionaire is the owner of the 5-star Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club, and the neighbouring Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy and Animal Orphanage.

Mumbi Mutuko