Deputy President William Ruto on Wednesday, June 15, claimed that the closure of Keroche Breweries Limited was politically instigated.
Speaking at a rally in Kisii County, the DP said the Naivasha-based brewery was being punished because the firm’s CEO Tabitha Karanja refused to join the Azimio coalition party.
“Ata leo wameenda wakafunga kampuni ya Keroche. Ati makosa ya mama wa Keroche ni kwa sababu yeye amekataa kwenda Azimio,” Ruto stated.
Ruto’s remarks came after the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) closed down Keroche again after a disagreement on the payment of tax arrears.
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In a press briefing on Tuesday, Karanja said that they were compelled to enter into an agreement with KRA whose implementation could not be supported by the company.
The Keroche CEO said that the implementation could be done because the firm was still nursing the post Covid-19 effects.
"After negotiating under tremendous pressure with a large team of your commissioners and top officers we were compelled to enter an agreement whose implementation on the face of it could not be supported by the company's performance in its immediate post covid 19 economic effects," Tabitha stated.
The closure came barely two months after the firm was reopened following an agreement by KRA over the payment of its tax arrears.
Ms. Karanja is the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party candidate in the senatorial race in Nakuru County ahead of August general election.
