The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has shut down Keroch Breweries again, on claims that the latter had defaulted in their earlier agreement on the settlement of tax arrears.
The company CEO Ms Tabitha Karanja says beer worth at least KSh350 million could go to waste if the brewer is not reopened in time to recover the losses, with over 400 workers losing their jobs.
In March this year, Keroche and KRA signed a payment plan that would see keroche settle an undisputed tax amount of KSh957 million over a period of 24 months starting from January 2022.
According to the company CEO Tabitha Karanja, efforts by the company to seek more time to pay the arrears had hit the wall.
“KRA has issued agency notices to the company’s bankers and instead of correctly notifying the banks of the KSh300 million we owe, it gave a wrong figure of KSh558.7 million,” Ms Karanja said.
This is the second time the factory is being shut by the taxman this year due to tax disputes.
SOURCES: KENYA WALL STREET
