Raila Defends Keroche Breweries in Tax Row with KRA
Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya coalition party presidential flagbearer Raila Odinga has come to the defense of Keroche Breweries Limited following its closure over tax arrears.
While calling for the reopening of the leading beer manufacturer, Odinga urged the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to avoid taking punitive measures that kill key industry players in the name of reclaiming taxes.
The presidential candidate argued that the government should regulate taxes and grant investors good tax payment laws that allow them to be compliant.
“It is not right to become punitive in terms of taxes. If taxes are too high, there is a tendency to evade them, but if they are low and manageable, people will pay. Don’t close a business because the owner has defaulted in paying taxes," Odinga stated.
“That is why am telling them, let Keroche go, don’t kill Keroche. If she cannot pay today, let her pay tomorrow. Spread out the payment. She is a Kenyan... Where can she run away to?"
KRA recently shut down the Naivasha-based brewer after it defaulted on an earlier agreement to repay tax arrears amounting to Sh322 million.
Odinga, who spoke on Friday during a meeting with Mt Kenya business leaders in Thika, termed Keroche as a major revenue generator and source of employment
“Don’t do it because if you close a business, you are not only killing the investor but you are also killing the employees. The private sector is an engine for economic growth. The government needs to create an enabling environment for the sector to thrive by removing bureaucratic red tape so that the private sector can move and create wealth,” he added.
On Tuesday, Keroche CEO Tabitha Karanja insisted that the shutdown of the company was politically motivated, citing her decision to vie for the Nakuru senate seat under Deputy President William Ruto’s UDA party.
Comments (11)
Mario and other Raila worshippers who condemned Ruto for supporting the Karanjas should also condemn their god(Raila) for defending them.Raila is paid shs 200m.protection fee per year by Majambazi Karanjas but never shares any coin with hutu tumutu.
Sources please
You can go get married to your Ruto you dummy. He is a thief and you are a known car jacker in Naivasha region all the way to Nakuru. Stop your nonsense because you are a known thief.
Mwangi endelea na kubweka na ukalimbie BONDO BUTCHERY upate mifupa ya binadamu.
Campaign is good, it makes politicians say anything that can get them a few votes here and there. Keroche taxes is purely between them and KRA. I have listened to Keroche CEO, and she avoids explaining the source of her debt to KRA. If the issue is her not paying taxes, she can resolve that with KRA. If the issue is her not forwarding employee deductions to KRA, that should be treated as criminal. We should not deal with defending Keroche/KRA till we understand the source of the debt.
I fully understand where Raila is coming from in the tax matter. But I seriously disagree with Tabitha Keroche for saying the tax arrears she being asked to pay has something to do with politics.
Besides, Tabitha recently said she does not own Keroche Breweries LTD. Why is she now so concerned about the closure of the Brewery if she does not own it.
Politicians have such a bad habit of crying foul when they already know they are wrong on just about everything in life.
There’s this ellusive word ‘RECEIVERSHIP’. It can do wonders.
Where are Azimio cronies???...Y'all hiding in the closets??...Any headlines about UDA na Ruto y'all out here yapping?...Ya'll don't have words now????....Suckers!!!
Hapoooo.Wamekimia wote.
Baba sometimes wacha kupayuka, huyu mama owes KRA taxes which she must pay. She is basically thumbing her nose because she is rich.How does continuing to let her operate help KRA the money is needed yesterday. If she cannot pay what she already owes when will she be able to acha siasa saa zingine if it is statehouse you seek you will get there without her support hawa watu wamesha pangwa “achana nao”.
The worst quote I have ever heard from a president candidate, evading tax? Nonsense. You are taking notes from Obama who bailed out wall street which led to half a million people lose houses to banks. Nonsense. 0 economics knowledge. If you don't pay tax and expect good roads, hospitals, railway, you should go to jail. You are setting up and bad behavior and setting up Kenya for failure