Tabitha Karanja addresses arrest warrant against her in Keroche tax evasion case

Nakuru Senator and former Keroche Breweries CEO Tabitha Karanja has expressed shock at the decision by a Nairobi court to issue a warrant of arrest against her on Wednesday.

Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Esther Kimilu earlier issued the warrant against Senator Karanja for skipping a scheduled hearing on Keroche’s Sh14.5 billion tax evasion case.

In a statement, the politician who resigned as the Keroche CEO in June, 2023, said that the latest development in the corridors of justice had left her “shocked and disappointed.”

“I have been made aware by media reports that a warrant of arrest against me has been issued with regard to the above matter. I am shocked and disappointed at this development,” Karanja stated.

She said her lawyer was absent due to his involvement in the ongoing Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process between Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and Keroche, as ostensibly ordered by court.

She argued that out-of-court process between KRA and embattled brewery was instigated on June 6, 2023 and is currently underway to resolve the lengthy high-profile tax dispute.

“Both ourselves and KRA have no information to the contrary. It is critical that these important ADR processes are not undermined by lack of coordination and communication by the various authorities charged with managing this matter,” she argued.

The UDA Senator called for preservation of the integrity of the alternative judicial process.

“It is critical that these important ADR processes are not undermined by lack of coordination and communication by the various authorities charged with managing this matter,” she added.

She further stressed on the importance of restoring a much-needed predictability to the Kenyan brewing company’s operation and the business environment in Kenya at large.