james wika 
Two directors of contracting companies were charged at the Eldoret Law Courts on April 23, following an in-depth investigation by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) that uncovered a tax evasion of Ksh290,250,889 million.
According to the press statement released by the KRA,Ms Jacquelyne Joy Buyanzi, the director Harmo Engineering and Building Contractors Limited and Ms Joan Jepkosgey Misoy, the director Mistroneux Limited were charged with tax fraud amounting to sh 282, 755,785 and sh 2,388,306 respectively.
KRA said that the Investigations established that between August 2014 and December 2019 the Harmo Engineering and Building Contractors Limited had earned over one billion shillings in income but omitted declaration of sh 756,538,599 in the VAT returns and sh 441,532,631 in the income tax returns resulting in evasion of sh 282, 755,785.
KRA indicated that Ms Joan Misoy and Mistroneux Limited fraudulently omitted in her tax returns income of sh 7,961,020 earned between 2021 and 2022.
“She also failed to declare income amounting to sh18,228,282 earned in her individual capacity between 2018 and 2022,” read part of the statement.
KRA noted that the accused persons appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate Keyne Odhiambo Gweno where they denied all the charges.
“Buyanzi was granted bond of Sh 5 Million with alternative cash bail of sh 300,000 whereas Misoy was granted bond of sh 2,000,000 with alternative cash bail of sh100,000 for the charges against the company and bond of Sh 2,000,000 with alternative cash bail of Sh 200,000 for charges relating to her individual taxes,” read part of the statement.
If found guilty, the two women will be sentenced to a fine of sh10,000,000 or double the taxes evaded, whichever is higher or imprisonment to a term not exceeding 5 years as provided for by the Tax Procedures Act, 2015, KRA said.
KRA encourages taxpayers to pay their taxes and remain compliant with tax laws in order to avoid punitive enforcements measures including prosecution being taken against them.
The general public is also urged to report any instances of tax evasion in order to guarantee fair competition in the market.
Upon investigations, the government would have lost a total of sh 5,106,798 in taxes.
Both cases will be mentioned on 5th May 2025.
