NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 28 – Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua says President William Ruto’s administration will not close down businesses over tax disputes with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).
While citing the example of businessman Humphrey Kariuki’s distillery which was shut down by the agency, Gachagua called for dialogue with investors which he says is key to prosperity.
He described it as a foolish decision which he stated will never be allowed to happen again.
“That factory was paying about Sh50 million in terms of tax every month. They sent DCI there, policemen, shut it down, arrested Humphrey Kariuki, a very enterprising Kenyan, a very honorable man, a man who was toiled through his life and built,” he stated.
“African Distillers factory owned by Humphrey Kariuki was closed & it was paying Sh50million every month in terms of tax & for 3yrs we have lost Sh1.8billion, money that we need in this country. That was a foolish decision and that will never happen in this administration.”
While encouraging Kenyans to diligently pay their taxes, he encouraged the tax agency to collect dues owed in a dignified manner.
“For a cow to produce milk, you have to give it hay. Europeans go a step further, they play country music to cows to produce milk. We have told them to look after taxpayers the way you look after a good dairy cow,” he stated.
