Keroche Breweries CEO Tabitha Karanja has sent a farewell message to former Kenya Revenue
Authority (KRA) boss Githii Mburu following his exit from the agency. In a statement posted on her official Twitter page, Karanja shared her favorite Bible verse with Mburu, wishing him all the best in his future endeavors.
“As you exit the stage to pave way for the new leadership at Kenya Revenue Authority, I wish to share with you my favourite bible verse in the book of Mathew 7:12 “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you”,” she said.
The Nakuru Senator added:
“To my friend CG – Githii Mburu I wish you all the best in your future endeavours.”
The two had been involved in a long-standing court case after KRA pressed tax evasion charges against Karanja and her company in 2020. The case has been pending at Milimani Chief Magistrate’s court since August 2020, and the taxman has shut down the factory multiple times since 2021.
However, in March 2022, the factory and KRA brokered a deal temporarily settling disputes that had been going on for years.
Under the agreement, Keroche was set to settle its close to KSh 957 billion tax liability over two years. However, the taxman shut down the company six times in 2022 after the brewery defaulted on an earlier agreed plan to repay tax arrears totaling KSh 300 million.
Despite the challenges, Karanja reiterated her commitment to pay all taxes owed to KRA, and urged them to allow the company to operate and generate revenue to clear its debts. However, KRA accused Keroche of failing to comply with the court order issued in July 2022, demanding the company pay taxes worth KSh 14.2 million.
The case is still ongoing, and on February 7, the court ordered the DPP to supply copies of witness documents in the KSh 14.5 billion tax evasion case against Keroche.
Karanja has denied ten counts leveled against her by the state, and the case will be mentioned on March 13 to confirm whether the prosecution has supplied all documents to the defense.
