KRA woes: Manager Joseph Chege Gikonyo, wife Lucy Kangai released on Kshs.5 million cash bail

Times Tower, KRA offices. Image|Courtesy

KRA manger Joseph Chege Gikonyo and his wife Lucy Kangai has been released on cash bail of Kshs.5 million.

The two were arrested on Monday evading to pay tax worth Kshs.38 million, the count that they have both denied.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) officials took the move following approval from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

EACC CEO Twalib Mbarak confirmed that the couple will be charged alongside their company, Giche Ltd, for fraudulent failure to pay taxes.

“The commission has established that between 2010 and 2015, Joseph Chege Gikonyo and Lucy Kangai Stephen both being directors of Giche Ltd, a limited liability company registered under the laws of Kenya, fraudulently failed to pay taxes to the KRA to the sum of Sh38,692,694 being the company’s tax due and expenses,” said Mr. Mbarak.

Mr. Gikonyo and his wife made cash deposits of Sh399 million in their bank accounts between 2010 and 2016.

EACC investigators uncovered the fraudulent acquisition of money by Mr. Gikonyo from clearing and forwarding firms.

The civil case documents filed shows that Mr Gikonyo acquired several plots in Mtwapa, Kilifi, Mombasa, Umoja Inner Core in Nairobi and Mwangunda in Kwale from the proceeds of graft.

The duo as said to have acquired at least Sh597 million in total assets.

They have at least 10 homes spread across Nairobi, Mombasa and Kilifi and a block of flats in Nairobi’s Umoja Estate.

Mr Gikonyo is also said to have acquired shares in Equity Bank, Safaricom, Kenya Reinsurance Corporation, KenGen and Madison Insurance.

See also: Moi University student win Ksh 1 million from Safaricom 'Shukrani Kochokocho' promotion

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