Keroche Breweries and Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) have embarked on an alternative dispute resolution in a bid to resolve their protracted tax row.
This comes a month after the High Court ordered the two parties to seek ways of resolving the dispute over the Sh9.1B dispute.
This came as the Naivasha based brewery launched yet another strong beer ‘X 8.8’ with projections that it would fetch the tax collector an extra Sh1B every year.
Speaking during the launch of the new beer that is targeting the upper class, Keroche CEO Tabitha Karanja was optimistic that the tax row would be resolved in the coming weeks.
“We have embarked on an alternative dispute resolution mechanism with KRA and we are optimistic that we shall solve this problem as all parties are willing to talk,” she said.
While calling for support from the government and Kenyans, Ms Karanja noted that the new brand would mean more job opportunities and revenue for the country.
She noted that investors in other countries were reaping high due to support by their relevant governments mainly after the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The pandemic has affected nearly all the sectors and with the closure of the bars we have not been spared and thus the call for support from the government,” she said.
Addressing the press after the launch, Ms Karanja noted that the new product would help them acquire their projected 20 percent share of the liquor market.
She said that for years, consumers of strong beers had been forced to rely on imports adding that the ‘X 8.8’ would help bridge the gap.
“This is a rich strong beer locally brewed, sold at a fair price and it’s targeting the middle and the upper class of consumers,” she said.
On his part, the CEO Bars, Hotels and Liquor Traders Association Boniface Gachoka welcomed the new product in the liquor market.
“We shall fully support locally produced brews as this means more jobs for the sector which has been adversely affected by the pandemic,” he said.
He lamented the on-going curfew noting that bars were operating for two hours between 5pm and 7pm leading to massive job losses.
He called on the counties to reduce their liquor licenses by 60 percent as one way of cushioning bar owners.
“We are happy that 21 counties including Nakuru and Muranga have reviewed their liquor licenses and we urge the others to follow suit,” she said.
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