Businessman Humphrey Kariuki, who was yesterday grilled for the third day running, has finally broken his silence and dismissed allegations levelled against him as untrue, fabricated and intended to use judicial process to tarnish his name.
“The truth, law and evidence is wholly behind me. I shall defend myself adequately and openly for the general public to know the truth,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Kariuki was charged in a Nairobi court on Monday and released on bail but was re-arrested immediately and taken to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters for grilling on money laundering allegations.
He and his co-directors are accused of evading Sh41 billion tax between 2014 and this year.
He is being grilled by a team of detectives from the Financial Investigations Unit (FIU) headed by Superitendent Mike Muia.
The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Noordin Haji had on August 8 directed the DCI boss to launch investigations into money laundering claims.
Kariuki, however, maintains he had never been involved in any criminal activity, saying he has invested across the world although he was not directly involved in the management of his businesses.
“I affirm that I have no outstanding tax dispute with the KRA, and that I do not manage any company that has a tax dispute with KRA. Therefore, any allegation linking me to tax evasion is false and in bad faith,” he said.
Kariuki said he had done a lot for the country through venture investment. “I have financed many ventures, which I do not manage that collectively pay substantial taxes. The employment created has positive impact on many Kenyan families and businesses directly and indirectly,” he said.
He said from January 31, there have been allegations of tax evasion, possession of uncustomed ethanol and alleged counterfeit stamps by Africa Spirits Limited.
“I have confirmed both to the DPP and the DCI the undisputable fact that I am not involved in the management of the said Africa Spirits Ltd and play no role in its executive management, and day-to-day operations, whatsoever,” he stated.
He dismissed reports that he was a fugitive, saying he is a law abiding citizen with business interests outside the country, and that he flew back into the country to attend court.
“I am in Kenya less than 130 days a year. Most of my time is committed to my international ventures, which appear to have attracted jealousy from certain quarters,” he said, adding that despite threats of arrest, he decided to fly back home, hear the “false allegations” against him and defend himself accordingly.
Kariuki, 62, is the founder of Janus Continental Group, a conglomerate that includes The Hub in Karen, Dalbit Petroleum, Africa Spirits, Great Lakes Africa Energy.
