A Nairobi court has ordered the director of Keroche Breweries Industry Ltd, Tabitha Karanja to appear in court this morning to be charged afresh in the Sh14.5 billion tax evasion case against her.

The case was scheduled for hearing before Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Esther Kimilu but it could not proceed since Ms Karanja, the Nakuru Senator, was not present in court and was said to be attending to official duties in Naivasha, prompting the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to raise concerns over the cavalier manner Ms Karanja has been taking the case.

The prosecution reminded the court it had previously warned Ms Karanja against absconding court proceedings. 

A senior State prosecutor told the court that they wanted to ask leave of court to institute fresh charges against the senator.

“Your honour, we are also ready to proceed with the hearing with five witnesses among them four from Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA),” said the prosecutor.