Naivasha-based Keroche Breweries has now settled for an out of court settlement with KRA over the Sh1.1 billion tax-evasion case.
According to the company's outgoing CEO Tabitha Karanja, they were keen to end the politically instigated case once and for all.
She termed the talks as very successful with the tax collector agreeing to withdraw the case from the courts for an alternative dispute resolution instead.
“Am happy to report that KRA has agreed to withdraw this tax case and we are working on an out of court settlement as this was a politically instigated case,” she said.
Speaking in Naivasha the Nakuru senator at the same time called for caution and accountability in the ongoing war against illicit brew that is being led by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
While welcoming the fight, she noted that if handled poorly the exercise could hurt the licenced brewers who were remitting more than Sh250 billion to the exchequer every year.
In the last couple of months, the DP has led an onslaught against the brews mainly in Central Kenya.
Karanja admitted that the second-generation brew had taken its toll on hundreds of youths across the country. She termed the crackdown as timely
“The exercise led by the DP is very nice but we should be careful not to politicise it as has been the case in the past where legalised breweries were shut down,” she said.
“The government is losing billions every year as the untaxed methanol is finding its way into the country through the porous borders."
On his part, the new CEO Potus Anaya said that they were now fully in production as he thanked their customers for standing with them.
“Unlike the past where we had to deal with threats and intimidation from different arms of the government, manufacturers are now working with freedom,” he said.
