Two liquor traders have been separately fined a total of KShs.87,000 after they pleaded guilty to a charge of being in possession of excisable goods affixed with counterfeit excise stamps.

The two; Joel Kimani Mwaura and Eunice Wangui were on Monday fined KShs. 37,140 and KShs.50,000 respectively by Makadara law courts. Kimani appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate Hon. Lewis Gatheru while Wangui appeared before Chief Magistrate Hon. A. R. Kithinji.

KRA officers in a routine operation within Nairobi County found Kimani on 1st May 2021 at Ruai market with 200 bottles of People Vodka each of 250Ml affixed with KRA counterfeit stamps with an estimate tax value of KShs. 18,570. Similarly, Wangui was found with 96 bottles of Heineken beer of 330ml and 24 bottles of Desperado beer 330ml with a taxable value of KShs. 8,000 all affixed with counterfeit excise stamps in her Wines & Spirits shop in Mwiki area.

Two other traders; Jacinta Ndunge Muthike and Maurice Mbeti Mujkui separately faced similar charges in the same courts and pleaded not guilty. They were each released on bond of Kshs. 200,000 or cash bail of Kshs. 100,000.

Ndunge was found selling various brands of alcoholic drinks affixed with counterfeit excise stamps with a taxable value of Kshs. 42,311 on 1st May 2021 in Kariobangi area. Mbeti, on the same date was found with goods with a taxable value of KShs.63,152 in Dandora.

Possession of goods affixed with counterfeit excise stamps is an offence under Section 28 and 40 as read with Section 41 of the Excise Duty Act 2015 and Regulation 30(1) (g) as read with Regulation 30(2) of the Excise Duty (Excisable Goods Management System) Regulations 2017.

KRA has aggressively embarked on eliminating tax evasion in the country that has led to several arrests and prosecutions that have resulted in the unearthing of various tax fraud schemes.

Taxpayers are encouraged to remain complaint with tax laws in order to avoid punitive enforcement measures including prosecution.

Commissioner, Investigations & Enforcement