Detectives investigating billionaire Humphrey Kariuki over tax evasion were astonished Thursday evening after it emerged that he is a citizen of Cyprus.
The breaking news now leaves them with a mountain to climb as they attempt to unravel the shareholding structure of his various firms.
According to reports, Mr Kariuki was questioned on the dual citizenship and on why he had not disclosed it as required by law.
Besides his Kenyan passport, Mr Kariuki travels on a Cyrus passport, number K0627485, issued on May 19, 2016.
While the Kenyan constitution allows for dual citizenship, the Citizenship and Immigration Act declares that “every dual citizen shall disclose his or her other citizenship in the prescribed manner within three months of becoming a dual citizen”.
The law further states that a citizen who fails to disclose the dual citizenship … “commits an offence and shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding five million shillings or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or both.”
“We are questioning him on that issue since failure to declare dual citizenship is an offence,” Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti said.
When Mr Kinoti was asked whether the billionaire will be charged in court, the DCI boss answered, “Why not? This is an offence.”
Officials from the Department of Immigration handed over Mr Kariuki’s file to investigators yesterday as it emerged that the billionaire might end up in court concerning his Cyprus papers.
Mr Kariuki has, however, not been charged with any of these — and there is no evidence, at the moment, that he took his Cyprus passport for money laundering purposes or for tax evasion.
Kariuki’s Cyproit citizenship emerged after the tycoon was summoned to appear before the DCI headquarters following the discovery of smuggled ethanol, 312,000 litres of illicit liquor and fake 21 KRA stamps at the Thika-based African Spirits Limited on January 31, 2019.