Director of Criminal Investigation, George Kinoti and Director of Public Prosecution, Noordin Haji brushed shoulders with the high and mighty in 2019, in their quest to bring offenders to justice.
On Tuesday, August 27, President Uhuru Kenyatta disclosed that he had instructed the two to act accordingly and without fear, as he had also warned his tycoon friends of impending arrests.
“Do not say I have sent anyone when you get caught. You have been caught with your hand in the jar," he divulged as he reiterated his war on graft.
In 2019, Kinoti and Haji also sought the help of US Federal Bureau of Investigations in the renewed fight against corruption in Kenya, as kamata kamata Friday became a slogan associated with Friday arrests, where suspects would spend weekends behind bars.
Below are Tycoons who found themselves on the wrong side of the DCI and DPP.
Humphrey Kariuki
He was a little known tycoon with a multi-billion empire comprising a liquor business, Africa Spirits Limited and Wines of the World.
Kariuki fought a spirited fight against the DPP in a tax evasion case where he was slapped with a total of 21 charges in three different files.
The charges alleged that he deliberately failed to pay taxes, falsified tax records, omitted VAT records and concealed excise stamp duties between February 2016 to December 2018 leading to a tax loss of Ksh41 billion.
Kariuki's case is still in court and he has so far managed to have his accounts unfrozen.
Tabitha and Joseph Karanja
The Keroche Breweries power couple is still facing tax evasion charges in court.
In August 2019, Haji ordered for the duo's arrest over alleged failure to pay tax amounting to Ksh14.4 billion on various products manufactured and sold by Keroche Breweries Limited, during the period between January 2015 to June 2019.
The two were charged with 10 counts of tax evasion between the aforementioned period.
The prosecution argued that the couple unlawfully made incorrect statements of their excise duty which in turn reduced their company’s tax liability by Ksh1.8 billion.
Ferdinand Waititu
The Kiambu governor’s case was a hard-hitting one, as apart from being arrested and charged in court over alleged embezzlement of Ksh 588 million, he was barred from office following a landmark ruling by Justice Mumbi Ngugi.
In August 2019, Ngugi ruled that governors accused of corruption and abuse of office should step aside pending trial.
The embattled governor was arrested on Sunday, July 28, after he presented himself to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission offices in Nairobi. His wife was arrested shortly after.
DPP Haji ordered the arrest and charging of the two for allegedly receiving Ksh51.2 million proceeds of the irregular tender awarded to M/S Testimony Enterprises Limited for road works.
The two were released after paying Ksh15 million cash bail.
Mike Sonko
The Nairobi Governor also faced similar charges to his Kiambu counterpart after he was arrested and charged alongside several county employees over alleged involving Ksh 357 million.
Haji ordered his arrest on Friday, December 6, 2019, at a press conference, stating that his order was based on investigations conducted by the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission.
As expected, Sonko’s arrest was dramatic as he was accused of trying to escape to Tanzania.
However, Sonko’s arrest had an impact on the Kenyan political sphere as President Uhuru Kenyatta raised questions on conflict of interest after the governor was defended in court by Elgeyo Marakwet Senator, Kipchumba Murkomen and his Makueni counterpart, Mutula Kilonzo Jnr.
“I have ordered the attorney general to move to Parliament and present the law on conflict of interest that intends to curtail public workers from attending to other private duties that would affect their service provision. This law has gone through consultations,” remarked president Kenyatta.
The directive elicited mixed reactions from politicians as they wait to debate it in Parliament.
On Tuesday, November 5, 2019, Kenyatta bestowed DPP Haji the Distinguished Taxpayers Award during an event at Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi for his bravery in prosecuting tax evasion suspects, even when high profile individuals are involved.
