Aug 1 – A truck driver and turnboy have been charged at Kisumu Law Courts with smuggling 8,750 litres of ethanol price Sh8.4 million in tax.
Salim Otieno Ooko and Joseph Odhiambo have been charged collectively earlier than Principal Magistrate Dennis Ogal.
The two have been arrested on July 23, 2025, on the Nyamasaria space alongside the Kisumu-Nairobi freeway in Kisumu County after their lorry was discovered transporting 35 barrels of 250 litres every of suspected ethanol whereas hid in 66 empty wood crates.
They are going through expenses of conveying and being in possession of restricted items in addition to concealment of imported items.
All the costs are opposite to the East Africa Community Management Act, 2004, and the Excise Duty Act, 2025.
Importation of ethanol is restricted beneath the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004. Smuggled ethanol is especially used within the unlawful manufacture of second-generation alcoholic drinks, which pose excessive well being dangers to residents as nicely as unfair commerce competitors.
They pleaded not responsible and have been launched on a bond of Sh500,000. The case can be heard on September 29, 2025.
“KRA is actively unearthing tax evasion schemes to boost tax compliance and adherence to tax laws and procedures while ensuring fair trade within the market. Taxpayers are urged to pay their taxes to avoid punitive enforcements measures that include prosecution,” the taxman introduced in a press release.
