By Kamadi Amata

A Nairobi court has ordered the arrest of Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja after she failed to appear for the hearing of a case where she is charged with tax related issues.

The case was set for hearing on Wednesday but failed to proceed.

The lawmaker on April 13 this year pleaded not guilty to fresh tax evasion charges after the prosecution amended the charge sheet in the Ksh.14.5 billion tax evasion case.

The prosecution requested the court to issue a warrant and schedule a hearing of the case on Thursday morning.

This was after the prosecution requested to amend the charges, saying some particulars were missing in the 2019 charge sheet.

According to the charge sheet, the accused and the company on dates between February 20, 2015, and January 20, 2016, unlawfully made incorrect statements in their excise duty returns by reducing their duty by Sh1.8 billion.

Lawyers of the former Keroche Breweries CEO told the court then that they wanted the matter resolved outside of court.

However, Irene Muthee, a KRA officer, told the court that there had been no agreement to settle the matter outside of court because Keroche would be required to notify the commissioner in writing under the Tax Procedure Act.

As a result, the court gave Keroche 45 days to begin the out-of-court settlement process, failure to which the case would go to full trial.

The taxman sued Keroche Breweries for contempt of court in late 2022.

A KRA representative who was present in court said the office has no intentions to have the matter settled out of court since they have not received any information.