Reprieve for Keroche as court orders KRA to open brewery

The High Court has ordered the Kenya Revenue Authority to reopen Keroche Breweries after weeks of closure over tax row. The Court noted that the brewer should continue with operations but clear the accrued taxes owed to KRA.

“An order be and is hereby issued that the Defendant/Respondent, taxman, its officers, agencies, associates to unseal the packaging line, the stores and to reactivate the Exercisable Goods Management System (EGMS) in the Applicant’s Keroche Breweries processing plant in Naivasha and to generally allow the applicant to carry on business forthwith,” said the ruling.

The court ordered Keroche to pay Ksh8 million on 30th of every month until the the next hearing date scheduled for 22nd of September 2022.

See also : KRA shuts down Keroche Breweries over Taxes

The brewery was closed one month ago after its failure to adhere to an agreed payment schedule with the Kenya Revenue Authority. The CEO Tabitha Karanja sought to reverse the closure saying beer worth Ksh350 million could go to waste as 400 employees would lose their livelihoods.