Nakuru Governor, Lee Kinyanjui, has come to the aid of over 500 Keroche employees at risk of being rendered jobless.
Through his Twitter page, Governor Kinyanjui defended the employees noting, that the quest to enhance tax collection must be balanced with the need to protect businesses and save jobs.
“The quest to enhance tax collection must be balanced with the need to protect businesses and save jobs. We must encourage a tax system that enhances compliance while appreciating the economic realities that businesses operate in,” Kinyanjui stated.
According to Kinyanjui, KRA’s treatment of local investors is more likely to force some to shut down their businesses or withdraw from the Kenyan market.
“Ignoring this business reality will lead to 100 per cent compliance but leave half the industries closed. We are greatly saddened by the manner in which KRA is treating local investors and in particular, how they have treated the Keroche Industries Ltd,” Kinyanjui insisted.
The county boss added that over 500 employees, directly engaged by the company and thousands of others who are indirect beneficiaries, stand to lose their jobs if the matter is not handled amicably.
He, therefore, insisted that the owners, Tabitha Karanja and her husband Joseph Karanja, should be treated with decorum to avoid massive job losses.
The over 500 employees who are directly engaged by the company and thousands of others who are indirect beneficiaries stand to lose their jobs if the matter is not handled amicably.We must treat the owners of capital with caution otherwise we shall be staring at major job loses.
— Governor Lee Kinyanjui (@GovLeeKinyanjui) August 21, 2019
The Karanjas are accused of evading the payment of tax amounting to Ksh.14.4 billion.