Mastermind Tobacco company Chairman Wilfred Murungi is dead. The tycoon, who was facing a legal tussle with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) over Sh1.99 billion tax payments, died on Thursday.
The management of the firm confirmed his death in a memo, which was shared to all members of the staff.
His cause of death still remains unclear as it was not communicated in the memo.
"It is with great sadness that we announce the passing on of our chairman, Mr.W.Murungi on the 6/6/19.The board requests that all staff respect the family's privacy in this difficult time. Further announcements will be made," read the memo in part.
On November 20, 2018, the deceased appeared in court to defend his firm against , and pleaded for an out of court settlement before his woes deepened.
The firm had been embroiled in various legal tussles before the owner met his death.
The tax man had sent auctioneers to his firm to auction his property before he sought legal redress.
On December, 5, 2018, the court handed him a reprieve after blocking the taxman from auctioning his property in a bid to get the unpaid tax.
The company has continued to operate amid the endless challenges it has been facing over time.