By Shukri Osman,
Anerlisa Muigai, heiress to the Keroche Breweries and CEO of the Nero Company, has expressed her resilience, hoping for the best and thanking God for everything, following KRA’s closure of their family business.
“When it rains, it pours… unfortunately that is what is happening on my family side but guess what, we still hopeful for the future and still thank God for everything…, Reason why I Don’t fear: God, ” Anerlisa wrote on her Instagram story.
After failing to reach an agreement on how to settle its tax arrears, Keroche Breweries was shut down once more.
Tabitha Karanja, the founder of Keroche Breweries, told the press on Tuesday, June 14, the decision puts the future of the company’s 400 employees in jeopardy.
She further stated that if the closure is not halted, KSh 350 million worth of beer could be thrown away.
“Thousands of hardworking Kenyans are being subjected to the humiliation and unfairness of unemployment, poverty, and hunger,” Karanja said.
The corporation is accused of breaching a prior arrangement to gradually settle its outstanding tax arrears, which it denies.
Before settling the tax arrears, Karanja requested a chance to restore the business and save her employees’ employment, according to her statement.
The industry was in chaos two months ago due to tax arrears, and this had a significant impact on Ms. Muigai. During the first two months of 2022, the socialite entrepreneur said she had observed as operations at Keroche came to a halt.
“It’s really unfortunate that Keroche was shut down, and no one appears willing to listen, help, or compromise.”
We (Nero Company) share the same compound as them, and it’s been very distressing to see Keroche closed for two months, and even worse, roughly 650 workers are trapped, unsure when Keroche will reopen, and are also at risk of losing their jobs.
“How do we, and other up-and-coming businesses, find the strength to keep going?” How can you get your taxes paid while closing Keroche and telling all the banks not to lend them money? “Can one get any more inhuman?” Anerlisa said in the statement.
The company has been involved in a Sh9 billion tax dispute with KRA, and a payment schedule was arranged, but it has now fallen behind.
According to Karanja, KRA’s alert to 36 banks made it more difficult for the company to obtain funds to pay its bills.
