Billionaire Humphrey Kariuki’s business that ran into taxation troubles with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) six years ago has been placed under administration. The business known as Africa Spirits Limited (ASL) has appointed Peter Kahi of PFK Consulting Limited as its administrator with effect from June 17, 2025.
“With the appointment, the powers of the Administrator extend to all assets and undertakings of the company. In the interim and by virtue of the administration, the powers of the directors of the company in terms of dealing with the company assets have ceased,” said Kahi in a notice.
“None of the directors, shareholders, employees, and no other person is authorized to transact business on behalf of the company without express written consent from the administrator.”
In the notice, Kahi further instructed that creditors are now required to send the full particulars of any claims they may have against the business by July 18, 2025.
Kariuki built his ASL brewery in 2002. In 2017, he was quoted as saying that Africa Spirits Limited was the most successful indigenous alcoholic beverage company in Kenya. In February 2019 though, he ran into trouble with the taxman after a bust at ASL where an estimated 21 million counterfeit excise stamps and 312,000 litres of illicit products were allegedly discovered. these items were all worth billions of money.
The KRA seized the factory over what it termed as a Sh41 billion tax evasion claim. However, in December 2022, the KRA handed the factory back to Kariuki. Since 2019 though, the ASl factory has remained non-operational. The factory is based in Thika, Kiambu County.
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Kariuki’s business conglomerate includes The Hub – a premier shopping mall located in the beautiful leafy suburbs of Karen in Nairobi; Dalbit Petroleum, one of the largest oil distributors in East and Southern Africa, and Great Lakes Africa Energy, a U.K-based company that is a developer and operator of power projects in Southern Africa. Kariuki is also the owner of the 5-star Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club, and the neighboring Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy and Animal Orphanage.
