Khalif Kairo Charged With Sh1.2M Tax Evasion

Businessman Joseph Kairo Wambui alias Khalif Kairo has been charged at Nyeri Law Court for tax evasion to the tune of Ksh 1,283,830 according to investigations by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).

Kairo who is also a director at Kai & Karo pleaded not guilty to charges which include knowingly misdeclaring a vehicle imported into the country in January last year.

“Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) investigations established that Kairo being the director of Kai & Karo Limited, knowingly misdeclared a Land Rover Range Rover Vogue as a used Land Rover Range Rover Sport on 10th January 2024 so as to evade payment of customs duty of Kshs.1,283,830,” said Levi Mukhweso, KRA Acting Commissioner for Investigations and Enforcement.

Kairo was granted bond of Ksh 500,000 pending the mention of the case on June 4, 2025.

If guilty, the accused will serve a jail term not exceeding three years or a fine not exceeding one million shillings.

Meanwhile, Kericho businessman Joseph Kiprob Koech was charged for tax fraud amounting to Ksh 83,774,330.

KRA investigations revealed that between 2014 and 2020 Kiprob earned an income but failed to declare income earned for tax purposes.

The businessman further overstated expenses incurred by the business so as to lower the tax liability.

He pleaded not guilty to all the charges before Senior Resident Magistrate Daniel Sitati Sifuma and was granted a bond of Ksh 3 million.

Kiprob risk a fine of Ksh10 million or double the tax evaded whichever is higher or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years if found guilty.

Others who have been charged for tax evasion include Edgepine Company Limited director John Maina Peter and Meru trader Samuel Matiba Kithia.

John Maina Peter is accused of using fictitious invoices amounting to Ksh 42,265,171 in order to evade tax.

“Maina knowingly and unlawfully made fictitious invoices in his company’s VAT returns amounting to Kshs.42,265,171 between 2019 to 2023 thereby reducing payable VAT by Ksh 6,762,428,” said KRA.

On the other hand, Samuel Matiba Kithia was charged at Meru Law Court with tax evasion of Ksh 3,388,776.34 resulting from use of counterfeit tax stamps.

He was arrested in December last year in Maua Town while in possession of assorted second generation liquor brands worth Ksh 6,855,000.

He was charged with being in possession of excisable goods affixed with counterfeit excise stamps. He pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bond of one million shillings. The case will be mentioned on 4th June,2025. If guilty, the accused will serve a jail term not exceeding three years or a fine not exceeding five million shillings or both as provided for by the Excise Duty Act 2015 as amended by Section 43 of the Finance Act 2023.