Brewer warns National Treasury against tax increment

Jane Karuku Managing Director, Kenya Breweries Limited(left) with Isaac Gachoka Assistant Manager Intelligent Strategy Operation(right) (ISO) having a chat after participating as panelist in the 4th Annual Tax Summit at Kenya School Of Monetary Studies. The topic of discussion was Accelerating the Growth and competitiveness of the manufacturing sector in Kenya.

Kenya Breweries Ltd (KBL) has warned against increasing taxes, noting that the industry can’t absorb any more levies.

The brewer said the intermittent tax increases that result in an unpredictable tax regime were counterproductive and would have dire effects on the millions of Kenyans who eke out a living from its supply chain - from farmers to those sellers in pubs. In the current financial year, Treasury increased excise taxes by 14.29 per cent to Sh200 per litre, up from Sh175, continuing a trend where the State has targeted alcoholic beverages with “sin taxes” annually.