The Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji has ordered for the arrest of a top shareholder of Africa Spirits and Wines of the World (WoW) Beverages.
According to Haji, Humphrey Kariuki evaded paying Sh41 billion tax through the beverage company where he is a major shareholder.
Kariuki now risks arrest alongside three directors of WoW Beverages Limited, and five employees from Africa Spirits Limited.
The tycoon allegedly evaded paying tax between 2014 and 2019. He has also been accused of being in possession of fake excise stamps.
Haji had allowed the tycoon and KRA to settle the matter out of court but no agreement was reached at the end of the day.
The DPP said the failure of the tycoon proved beyond doubt that he is not ready to comply with the directive from the body.
“With regards to non-payment of taxes, some of the parties were given an opportunity to settle the matter with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), but the process was unsuccessful,” the DPP said as quoted by Capital FM.
Early this year, detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations conducted a raid in the firm's main plant in Thika, where the revelations were made.