The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) now says the wanted Jubilee party sponsor in KSh 2 billion tax evasion was hiding in Deputy President William Ruto’s hotel.
It was earlier believed the businesswoman was out of the country, a move that saw the taxman issue alerts to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
But in a statement to Newsrooms on Thursday, December 9, KRA said Mary Wambui Mungai and her daughter Purity Njoki Mungai who are the directors of Purma Holdings Limited escaped a police pursuit at William Ruto’s hotel where they were residing.
“The two, Mary Wambui Mungai and Purity Njoki Mungai escaped from their hotel rooms a few minutes before KRA officers and the police arrived to arrest them,” the authority said.
Upon searching the hotel premises, KRA officers and the police found personal belongings of the two including cash, bank cards, and car keys; a clear indication that the two were residing at Ruto’s hotel.
A warrant of arrest was issued on the two on Tuesday, December 7, after the two failed to appear in Anti-Corruption Court to answer 8 counts of knowingly and unlawfully omitting taxes due in the Income Tax returns submitted to the Commissioner for Domestic Taxes between 2014-2016.
The court was informed that the two failed to honor summons to appear before KRA on December 3, 2021, to inform them of the charges against them and instead sent their accountant.
Through their lawyer Sylvanus Osoro, Mungai, who is believed to be a close friend of William Ruto informed the court that she was admitted to hospital from 29th November 2021.
However, no medical records or disclosure of illness or hospitalization have so far been made.
Court agreed with the prosecution that the accused were buying time instead of confronting the charges which the court noted are of great public interest and grave.
