The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Nordin Haji has ordered for the arrest of Keroche Breweries directors namely Tabitha Karanja and Joseph Karanja over tax evasion.
The Karanja's are the proprietors of the brewery.
The power couple reportedly evaded paying tax amounting to Sh14.4b over the years.
The directive brings the two among the latest tycoons facing tax evasion charges after billionaire businessman Humphrey Kariuki over alleged Sh41 billion tax evasion.
Haji said that he has reviewed the files Keroche Breweries before ordering for the arrest. He said that Keroche failed to pay taxes on various products including Crescent Vodka, Viena Ice and Summit beers.
“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, contrary to section 97 (a) and (c) of the Tax Procedures Act, 2015,” said the DPP.
Kariuki who owns Africa Spirits Ltd and Wines of the World Ltd (WOW), presented himself in court on Monday after he was sought by the police over the tax evasion claims. He was arrested shortly after a Nairobi court freed him on Sh11 million cash bail.
In a statement released to the media houses, Kariuki denied tax evasion charges. He said that the charges levelled against him are biased and ill-motivated.
Kariuki said that he is a law-abiding citizen and he cannot evade paying taxes as claimed.