Leaders call for negotiations over closure of Keroche breweries 

Leaders from Nakuru County have challenged KRA to amicably engage Keroche Breweries for the sake of tens of workers employed by the Naivasha-based company.

They noted that the closure of the company spelled doom for the town’s economy and families adding that the company should be given a grace period to pay the pending arrears.

Last week, KRA closed the factory over Ksh 322m arrears raising fears that liquor worth Ksh 0.5B would go to waste while 250 workers employed by the company would go home.

Earlier in a statement, Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui accused KRA of treating Keroche unfairly, noting that it was a major employer in the county and country.

“While there may be tax matters that require redress, it would be an act of utmost betrayal to Kenyans who have built their businesses over years to be reduced to fugitives,” he said.

And addressing the press in Naivasha, area leaders accused KRA of being one of the leading causes of unemployment in the country.

The chairman Nakuru Youth forum association Stephen Mungai noted that the majority of those who would lose their jobs were youths who had young families.

He said that they would petition the Senate and Parliament to act adding the brewer was one of the largest employers in Naivasha and had assisted many in the last 25 years.

“We support the paying of taxes but we are saddened by what is going on and we are urging the parties involved to engage each other and seek a solution,” he said.

He added that the company should be allowed to sell the Ksh 500m liquor in their tanks to assist in repaying the arrears owed to KRA.

This was echoed by another youth leader Suleiman Katana who said that Covid-19 pandemic had affected all including the brewery.

He said that the Keroche issue should not be politicized adding that the closure would affect many at a time when the cost of living had gone up coupled with unemployment.

“We support paying taxes but we should not kill local investment and send tens of youths home, further worsening the situation,” he said.

On her part, Naomi Gitau called on the president to intervene, adding that many families and companies had not yet recovered from the pandemic.

“We should protect investors who have employed hundreds of youths in this country instead of antagonizing them by inhumane demands,” he said