Tabitha Karanja joins UDA, scoffs at govt for ‘overtaxing’ businesses
Keroche Breweries Limited CEO and Founder Tabitha Karanja has joined Deputy President William Ruto's United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party and is set to vie for Nakuru senatorial seat in the August 9 general election.
Tabitha, who was officially received by the DP at a Nakuru rally, said she believed in the bottom-up economic model which the party is advocating for.
"I have practised bottom-up approach as a businesswoman for the past 25 years. I understand it well," she said.
Tabitha, who claimed to have the largest factory in Nakuru, said she has created many jobs for the people of Nakuru and that she was the best candidate for the senatorial seat.
"I'm running for the Senate seat to ensure that the laws we make in Nairobi are helping us here on the ground," she said.
She called on the DP to level business playing ground should he ascend to the presidency in the August 9 poll.
"Heavy taxation by the current regime has killed our businesses. We are requesting you to look at that when you become president," she added.
In August 2019, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) ordered prosecution of Tabitha and her husband Joseph Karanja over unpaid Ksh14.5 billion tax owed to their liquor firm.
The company was accused of evading payment of Ksh12.34 billion VAT for stamps (Ksh329.4 million), Crescent Vodka (Sh135.4 million) among other products.
Keroche was also accused of evading payment of excise duty amounting to Ksh2.1 billion for the same items.
