Tabitha Karanja Denies Owning Keroche Breweries, Says She is Just an Employee

Nakuru senate aspirant Tabitha Karanja has denied ownership of Keroche Breweries Ltd.

While responding to a suit seeking to bar her from vying for the county’s senatorial seat in the August 9th elections, the businesswoman-cum-politician stated that she is not the owner of the brewer. 

“I am employed by Keroche Breweries Limited as a Director and CEO but I am not the owner of the company as alleged by the petitioner,” she says in an affidavit through Kabugu and Company Advocates.

“The company has been recognised in many forums as a leading business in the country and I am proudly associated.”

The petition was filed by Daniel Mahiri, who argues that Karanja is unsuitable to hold public office because her company has been accused in several cases of tax evasion-related crimes since 2006. Mahiri lost to Karanja in the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party primaries held in April.

But in her response, Karanja described Mahiri as a loser, adding that he is not motivated by ethics or ideals as he claims in his petition. She notes that his motivation is selfish and aimed at eliminating competition for personal gains.

The tycoon admits that Keroche has pending tax disputes with Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) as is the case with most businesses and other taxpayers in the country.

Karanja stated that she is a stranger to the admissions of tax liability alleged by the petitioner but she is aware of the ongoing negotiations between Keroche and KRA to resolve pending tax disputes.

“In any event, I do not understand what the tax relations of Keroche Breweries Limited have to do with me as a private person distinct from the company,” she adds.

Last month, the 57-year-old entrepreneur and industrialist changed her official name from Tabitha Mukami Karanja to Tabitha Karanja Keroche. In a sworn affidavit, she said she will use the new name “for all purposes.”

Her new name was revealed through a Kenya Gazette notice number 4013 dated April 8th, 2022.

Tabitha co-founded Keroche Breweries with her husband Joseph Karanja in 1997. The Naivasha-based company has grown to be the second-largest alcoholic beverages producer in Kenya.