Police on the spot over theft at Humphrey Kariuki’s factory in Thika
A company associated with business tycoon Humphrey Kariuki that was closed down in January this year is accusing the police of alleged theft in the premises.
The management of Thika based African Spirits Limited is claiming that the police have been stealing alcoholic beverages, raw material for the manufacturing of liquor, machinery and vehicle parts from the factory.
The company was closed down in January and marked as a scene of crime and put under a 24-hour police protection following a week-long operation that was led by former inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet, DCI director George Kinoti, Flying Squad boss Musa Yego and the current Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Director General Mr Githii Mburu.
A director in the company who declined to be named said they are concerned with the rate of theft that has been ongoing in the factory.
“Being a crime scene, it is quite difficult to quantify the value of the property that has so far been stolen. Since the police took over the premises, they are the ones who have been camping here and so if anything goes missing, they should be held responsible,” he said.
He added among other things they have lost include raw spirit used to manufacture alcohol, TV sets and gas cylinders.He claimed they have evidence that show that the police have been stealing from the company and called on their superiors to investigate the matter and ensure appropriate action is taken on those who will be found culpable.
Thika Sub-County Police Commander Beatrice Kiraguri said she was not aware of the claims against the police officers as she was away on leave.
Her deputy Bernard Ayoo however said the matter has not yet been reported to the police and urged anyone with such reports to report to them in order to allow them commence investigations.
“I wonder how the company management has come to know that there are some things that have been stolen since no one is allowed access in to the premises apart from the police,” said Mr. Ayoo.During the January raid, the police confiscated 22,000 liters of ethanol suspected to be from Tanzania that was stored in 80 drums.
KRA said they are investigating how the ethanol came into the country and warned that any government officials who could have aided the smuggling will face the law.
An estimated 21 million counterfeit excise stamps and 312,000 litres of illicit products valued at Sh1.2 billion tax were seized during the raid.Mr Kariuki was last month charged with Sh 41 billion tax evasion. He denied charges and was released on a cash bail of Sh 15 million.
Three directors of African Spirits Company were also charged with tax evasion charges.The three, Mr Kepha Githinji Gakure, Mr Robert Thinji Murithi and Mr Peter Njenga Kuria were accused of failing to remit Sh36.5 billion to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).
They denied the charges and were released on Sh11 million cash bail each.Established in 2004, Africa Spirits Limited has brands of Brandy, Gin and Vodka.Some of their products are Legend Gold Brandy, Blue moon Vodka, Blue Moon Vodka flavours (Apple, Mango & Ginger), Gypsy King Gin and The Furaha Range among others.
