Businessman Charged Over Sh. 130 Million Tax Fraud

A businessman, Anthony Waweru Macharia has been arraigned and charged before Nyeri Law Courts with tax fraud amounting to Sh130 million.

The accused faces twelve (12) counts of deliberate failure to declare true income in his tax returns between the years 2019 and 2024 contrary to Section 97(c) as read together with Section 104(3) of the Tax Procedures Act.

Macharia, who appeared before senior resident magistrate Beniah Okongo, pleaded not guilty to all charges and has been remanded for seven (7) days pending the preparation of a pre-bail report to guide the court in determining appropriate bond terms.

The Kenyan self-assessment tax system requires taxpayers to accurately declare income and pay all taxes due.

The offence attracts a penalty of Sh10 million or double the amount of tax evaded whichever is higher or imprisonment for a term not exceeding five (5) years, or both, if found guilty by a court of law.

In another case, Peter Mugambi John was charged before the Meru Law Courts with possession of excisable goods affixed with counterfeit excise stamps, contrary to Section 28(6)(g) as read with Section 28(7) of the Excise Duty Act.

The accused was found in possession of 1,900 bottles of Supa Vodka (250ml each) bearing counterfeit excise stamps, with an estimated tax value of Sh190,000, at Muriri Centre in Meru County on 19th January 2026.

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), through its Investigations and Enforcement Department, continues to intensify enforcement efforts to detect and deter tax evasion, illicit trade, and other forms of revenue leakage.

KRA has urged the public to support these efforts by reporting any suspected cases of tax evasion, fraud, or smuggling.