DPP orders arrest of Keroche Breweries owners Tabitha Karanja, husband Joseph Karanja

Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji has ordered the arrest and prosecution of Keroche Breweries owners Tabitha Karanja and her husband Joseph Karanja over alleged evasion of taxes amounting to Ksh.14.4 billion.

According to the DPP, an audit by KRA established that Keroche Breweries Limited evaded taxes by failing to pay Excise Duty and Value Added Tax (VAT) on its various products including Crescent Vodka, Viena Ice and Summit beers as well as duty stamps.

The alleged evasion of tax payment by Keroche Breweries Limited occurred between January 2015 and June 2019.

The DPP wants Tabitha Karanja, Joseph Karanja and Keroche Breweries Limited charged with 10 counts of Tax Fraud.

“Having independently reviewed the file and applying the provisions of the National Prosecution Policy, I am satisfied that there is sufficient evidence and that it is in the public interest to charge the suspects listed herein with 10 counts of Tax Fraud, contary to section 97 (a) and (c) of the Tax Procedures Act, 2015,” said the DPP.