Popular social media influencer and city-based businessman Khalif Kairo has been charged with tax fraud in a case that adds to the growing list of controversies surrounding him.
Kairo, famed for flaunting luxury cars online, was charged alongside his company, Kai & Karo Limited, at the Nyeri Law Courts. The charges stem from a tax fraud investigation conducted by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).
According to KRA, Kairo allegedly misdeclared a Land Rover Range Rover Vogue as a used Land Rover Range Rover Sport on January 10, 2024, in an attempt to underpay customs duty amounting to Ksh1,283,830.
"Businessman Joseph Kairo Wambui, famously known as Khalif Kairo, and his company Kai & Karo Limited have been charged at Nyeri Law Court with tax fraud of Ksh1,283,830," read part of the KRA statement.
"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 January 10, 2024, to evade payment of customs duty of Ksh1,283,830," it added.
He was charged with the offence of being knowingly concerned with the fraudulent evasion of duty. Kairo, however, pleaded not guilty and was released on a bond of Ksh500,000.
The case will be mentioned on June 4, 2025. If found guilty, Kairo risks a jail term not exceeding three years or a fine of up to Ksh1 million.
Kairo has been facing multiple legal suits over deals that were alleged to have gone sour.
In a separate case filed by the taxman, a Kericho-based businessman was charged with tax fraud amounting to Ksh83,774,330.
Investigations revealed that between 2014 and 2020 that the businessman earned an income but failed to declare income earned for tax purposes. He further overstated expenses incurred by the business so as to lower the tax liability.
He appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate Daniel Sitati Sifuma, where he pleaded not guilty to all the charges and was granted a bond of Ksh3 million.
If found guilty, the businessman will be liable to a fine of Ksh10 Million or double the tax evaded, whichever is higher, for imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years.
