Kenya Revenue Authority Goes After Khalif Kairo Over KSh 1.2 Million Tax
- Car dealer Joseph Kairo Wambui, popularly known as Khalif Kairo, has been charged with tax evasion amounting to KSh 1,283,830
- The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) claims Kairo, a director at Kai & Karo Limited, deliberately declared a Range Rover Vogue as a cheaper Range Rover Sport to dodge taxes
- Kairo pleaded not guilty at the Nyeri Law Court and was released on a bond of KSh 500,000, with the case set for mention on June 4, 2025
Elijah Ntongai, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, has over four years of financial, business, and technology research and reporting experience, providing insights into Kenyan and global trends.
Controversial businessman and car dealer Joseph Kairo Wambui, popularly known as Khalif Kairo, has found himself on the wrong side of the law after being charged with tax evasion amounting to KSh 1,283,830.
Source: Twitter
Kairo, a director at Kai & Karo Limited, appeared at the Nyeri Law Court on Monday, where he pleaded not guilty to allegations of knowingly misdeclaring a high-end vehicle to dodge import taxes.
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Kairo was among other individuals charged with tax evasion offences.
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“These cases underscore our commitment to enforcing compliance and ensuring all taxpayers meet their obligations,” KRA said in a statement.
What was Kairo charged with?
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) alleged that on January 10, 2024, Kairo declared a Land Rover Range Rover Vogue as a used Land Rover Range Rover Sport, a move investigators say was deliberate to reduce his customs duty liability.
“KRA investigations established that Kairo, being the director of Kai & Karo Limited, knowingly misdeclared a Land Rover Range Rover Vogue as a used Range Rover Sport to evade payment of customs duty of KSh 1,283,830,” said Levi Mukhweso, the Acting Commissioner for Investigations and Enforcement at KRA.
The court granted Kairo a bond of KSh 500,000, with the case scheduled for mention on June 4, 2025.
If convicted, Kairo faces up to three years in prison or a fine not exceeding KSh 1 million, as outlined in tax legislation.
Source: Twitter
Others charged with tax evasion
Apart from Kairo, several other individuals were also charged on Monday in what appears to be a renewed offensive on tax evasion.
Among them is Joseph Kiprob Koech, a businessman from Kericho, who is facing tax fraud charges totalling KSh 83.7 million.
KRA said he failed to declare income earned between 2014 and 2020 and also overstated business expenses to lower his tax obligations. Koech denied all charges and was granted a bond of KSh 3 million.
In Meru, Samuel Matiba Kithia was charged with evading KSh 3.38 million in taxes through the use of counterfeit excise stamps.
He was arrested last December in Maua Town with second-generation liquor valued at over KSh 6.8 million. Kithia also pleaded not guilty and secured a bond of KSh 1 million.
Meanwhile, John Maina Peter, director of Edgepine Company Limited, is accused of generating fictitious invoices amounting to KSh 42.2 million between 2019 and 2023, enabling his company to underpay VAT by KSh 6.7 million.
KRA has vowed to sustain the momentum in clamping down on fraudulent tax practices, warning that no individual or company will be spared.
Kairo opens up about his jail experience
In other news, Kairo opened up about his harrowing jail experience following his re-arrest in March 2025 over fresh fraud allegations involving undelivered imported cars.
Kairo appeared in a candid Instagram video alongside Nairobi County's Chief Officer for Environment, Geoffrey Mosiria, where he described his time in custody as "very tough" but credited his faith in God for helping him endure the ordeal.
He reflected on the difficult lessons learned during his incarceration and expressed gratitude for the chance to return to work, despite having witnessed deeply unsettling experiences while in jail.
The public response was overwhelmingly supportive, with netizens commending his resilience and even pledging to support his business.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
