We will name, shame politicians intimidating Keroche – Babu Owino

Kenya Universities Students’ Organisation (KUSO), through its chair, Babu Owino, has hit out at Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and politicians accusing them of frustrating Keroche Breweries.

In an official press statement dated August 9, the students’ organisation accused KRA of being compromised by politicians and international firms competing for the same market with Keroche.

Babu has also castigated foreign companies saying they do not have the interest of Kenyans at heart.

“There will be massive loss of jobs from those employed by Keroche directly and those who have indirect employment from the firm such as distributors, stockists and suppliers, including several youths; some of whom are university students.”

Kuso has also taken a swipe at politicians saying they are pretentious in making people believe they are championing for women’s rights, yet they frustrate Keroche CEO Tabitha Karanja.

“The most active politicians in this infamous fight against Keroche are interestingly the ones who loudly cheered President Barack Obama loudest when he spoke about women empowerment.

“It is worrying how soon they have forgotten and are now fighting the great investment being championed by a woman.”

The students’ organisation said it has at its disposal the names of those politicians behind the intimidation of Keroche Breweries boss, vowing to make the names public soon.

“We have in our possession the names of politicians and KRA officials and their links with Keroche competitors and we shall name them and shame them in due course.”

They (students’ leaders) also demanded the immediate resignation of the KRA boss.

“We demand the immediate resignation of the KRA boss and other public officers involved in this saga before a massive demonstration in solidarity with Keroche that we shall organise soon throughout the country.”

KRA had recently slapped Keroche Breweries with a Sh1.3 billion tax bill due to a new taxation formula which was introduced, and would be applied on the company’s ‘Viena Ice’ brand.

Keroche CEO, Tabitha Karanja, however maintained that she had always paid her taxes diligently; and that charging Sh120 per litre tax on ‘Viena Ice’, from Sh26 under the new taxation policy is unfair.

This came in the backdrop of a court battle where KRA sought to shut down Keroche’s Crescent Vodka manufacturing plant.

However, Keroche moved to court and obtained a court order bocking the closure.