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Mary Wambui walks free in Sh2.2bn tax evasion case after DPP withdrawal

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Businesswoman Mary Wambui hugs her daughter at Milimaniu Courts on January 10, 2022 after they were discharged in a Sh2.2 billion tax evasoon case. TOP STORIESMary Wambui Walks Free In Sh2.2bn Tax Evasion Case After DPP Withdrawal ByJOHN OSORO Published50 mins ago ./Courtesy

NAIROBI, Kenya Jan 10 – Businesswoman Mary Wambui and her daughter have joined the list of prominent Kenyans whose cases have been withdrawn in recent weeks.

Wambui, who was recently appointed the Chairperson of the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK), has been battling a Sh2.2 billion tax evasion case with her daughter as directors of Purma Holdings.

But on Tuesday, the Director of Public Prosecutions applied to discharge them from the case over sufficient lack of evidence.

The application was granted by Magistrate Felix Kombo.

The two were dramatically arrested last year following investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) which accused them of evading taxes.

In allowing the application to withdraw the case, the trial magistrate Felix Kombo said he was satisfied with the agreement reached by the Kenya Revenue Authority and the two on the settlement of the dispute.

“Following successful compounding of offenses on December 6, 2022, and subsequent payment of fines imposed, the authority now wishes to withdraw the matter pending before the court,” read the letter by KRA in December.

The magistrate subsequently ordered that Wambui and her daughter Purity get back their Sh50 million cash bail.

In the case, Purma Holdings Limited and its directors Wambui and Purity had been accused of knowingly and unlawfully omitting from the company’s income tax returns Sh2.5 billion.

The said monies according to the charge sheet should have been included in the income tax returns submitted to the commissioner for the year of income 2014. Eight witnesses had been lined up to testify in the case.

Capital News

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Milton Nyakundi

Milton Nyakundi is a veteran multimedia journalist with over 20 years of experience across broadcast, digital, and print media, who relocated to the United States in 2022 and is now the Senior International Correspondent for Kurunzi News based in Washington, DC, USA. He has previously worked with the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), among other high-profile roles with Kenya's first privately-owned media outlet - Kenya Television Network. His experience also include prominent roles as Media Consultant for Football Kenya Federation (FKF), and StarTimes Kenya. His career spans high‑stakes political reporting covering legislative and constitutional issues, elections, governance, and accountability across Kenya, Africa, and global arenas. He also boasts extensive sports journalism experience, covering local and international sports events, including leagues, tournaments and sports governance. He is well-known for his investigative depth, editorial leadership, and evidence-driven journalism that guides his consistent delivery of public‑interest storytelling across platforms.

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