The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has closed down Keroche Breweries Limited again after a disagreement on the payment of tax arrears.
Addressing the press on Tuesday, Keroche CEO Tabitha Karanja said that they were compelled to enter into an agreement with KRA whose implementation could not be supported by the company.
"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 Keroche CEO said that she had informed KRA they could not meet their tax obligation in one month but her pleas fell on deaf ears.
She has now requested that she be given another opportunity to rebuild Keroche and save hundreds of jobs that will be lost following the shut down.
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"I therefore also humbly request for further engagement to consider a way for the company to meet its due obligations without sacrificing it and the livelihoods of countless Kenyan households," Tabitha said.
Read Also: Reprieve for Keroche After Striking Deal with KRA
This comes barely two months after Keroche reached an agreement with KRA on the payment of its tax arrears that saw the company reopened.
"The addendum agreement which sets the stage for the reopening for production of the Naivasha-based brewery will see Keroche settle an undisputed tax amount of Sh957,000,000 over a period of twenty-four (24) months starting from January 2022," read part of KRA’s statement.
