The former leader of majority at the Kakamega County Assembly Rashid Rocky Omwendo was arraigned at the Kakamega Law Courts on Tuesday for charges of tax evasion amounting to Ksh 5.2 million.
Omwendo faced three counts of tax fraud totalling Ksh 3,422,006 stemming from his failure to declare an income of Ksh 11.7 million under his personal Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) PIN.
Additionally, he was charged alongside Jackline Mary Ambetsa and Nambalah Enterprise Limited with 12 counts of tax fraud amounting to Ksh 1.8 million. Omwendo and Ambetsa are both company directors.
The charges include fraud in relation to tax, failure to submit tax returns, and failure to pay taxes on time as required by law. The alleged tax offences were committed between 2018 and 2022.
The accused pleaded not guilty before Chief Magistrate Philip Mutua and were granted a bond of Ksh 200,000.
The case is set for mention on May 8, 2025.
If convicted, the accused could face a fine of Ksh 10 million or double the evaded tax amount, whichever is higher, or imprisonment for up to five years, in line with the Tax Procedures Act, 2015.
Meanwhile, James Njenga Waweru was arraigned at the Eldoret Law Courts for possession and transportation of restricted goods, contrary to the East African Community Customs Management Act, 2004.
Waweru was arrested on January 8, 2025, at Soy Township in Uasin Gishu County while transporting 35 drums, each containing 250 litres of ethanol, aboard an Isuzu FRR truck.
Investigations revealed that the ethanol had a customs value of Ksh 1,566,338, with unpaid duties amounting to Ksh 4,504,210.
Appearing before Senior Resident Magistrate Keyne Gweno, Waweru pleaded not guilty and was granted a bond of Ksh 100,000.
The case is scheduled for mention on March 3, 2025.
