Embattled Kenyan billionaire businessman Humphrey Kariuki has broken his silence over allegations that he evaded taxes amounting to Sh41 billion.
In a statement dispatched to the media on Tuesday, the tycoon termed the accusations as an attempt to taint his name, saying they were “untrue, without merit, and fabricated.”
“I am a law-abiding citizen who believes in the rule of law. The allegations leveled against me are untrue, without merit, fabricated and intended to use the judicial process to tarnish my name,” stated Kariuki.
Kariuki further stated that none of his companies has a pending tax dispute with Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).
“I affirm that I have no outstanding tax dispute with the Kenya Revenue Authority and that I do not manage any company that has a tax dispute with the KRA. Therefore any allegation linking me to tax evasion is false and is made in bad faith.”
Kariuki explained that he has invested heavily abroad and only spends about four months in the country. As a result, he said, some jealous elements were out to scuttle his business empire.
“Due to my business interests outside the country, I am in Kenya for less than 130 days a year. Most of my time is committed to my international ventures, which appear to have attracted jealousy from certain quarters, who are hell-bent on ensuring that they ruin my business by tarnishing my character and reputation through adverse and orchestrated media publicity and implication with offenses that I am a stranger to,” said Kariuki.
Kariuki said he is determined to fight the charges leveled against him, saying he learned about them through Kenyan online newspapers.
On Monday, the businessman was charged with 21 counts of evading taxes amounting to Sh41 billion between 2014 and 2019. He is accused of evading the taxes through his companies Africa Spirits Limited and Wines of the World (WOW).
He was freed on a cash bail of Sh11 million after pleading not guilty.
