Tabitha Karanja's Emotional Message On Leaving Keroche Breweries As CEO
She announced that it was the right time to pass the baton to the next generation of leaders as she transitions into her current role in the Senate.
Marvin Chege 
Nakuru Senator, Tabitha Karanja on Tuesday, June 13 issued a moving message while announcing that she was stepping down as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Keroche Breweries.
Speaking during Keroche's 25th-anniversary celebrations, an emotional Karanja termed her departure from the helm of the beverage company after two and a half decades as a milestone in her career.
She announced that it was the right time to pass the baton to the next generation of leaders as she transitions into her current role in the Senate.
“Having navigated the journey as the captain for 25 years, the time has come for me, Tabitha Karanja, to pass the baton to a new generation of business leaders. With immense pride, I hereby announce my decision to step down as the CEO of Keroche Breweries, entrusting the leadership to a deserving successor,” announced Karanja.
Former Keroche Breweries CEO Tabitha Karanja with President William Ruto during a UDA campaign in 2022. /FILE
In her role as CEO, she described how she took the brewery from its humble beginnings to becoming the second-largest brewery in Kenya and the largest owned by Kenyans.
Karanja highlighted the challenges she faced while at the helm, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in mass layoffs, and the dispute the company had with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) over tax areas.
She maintained that despite challenges, Keroche has managed to rebuild its strength and regain its footing, and its production capacity has been restored.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude for making the past twenty-five years an extraordinary journey that words cannot adequately capture. I believe I leave the organization well positioned to meet the opportunity and challenges for a national and international leader in the Kenyan and African beverages industry,” she added.
Karanja thanked her family, friends for their unwavering support in good and tough times and for their love and unwavering support.
She further noted that she would always be present in the company, albeit not physically, watching it chart the next course of its journey.
“While I may no longer be physically presented in the office every day please know that our bond remains unbreakable. I am not just a bystander, I am a firm believer, fan, and devoted consumer of the Keroche brands.
“This company holds a special place in my heart. It is a love that will endure for eternity. I know and I believe this team will create a future that exceeds even the wildest dream. Mbele iko sawa (Forward better),” she stated.
The Senate Deputy Majority Leader will be replaced by Potas Anaya in the prestigious position at the company having previously been its Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
“I am now ready to wholeheartedly dedicate myself to the honour of serving as the Senator of Nakuru County and as the Deputy Leader of the Majority in the Senate, representing our remarkable nation. The trust bestowed upon me by His Excellency, President Dr William Ruto, and the esteemed Leadership of the Kenya Kwanza Coalition humbles me deeply.” Karanja committed.
Karanja, who legally changed her name to Keroche, was the face behind the name, building the Naivasha-based brewer into a national brand. In 2022, she changed her name from Tabitha Mukami Muigai-Karanja to Tabitha Karanja Keroche.
She however leaves Keroche facing a protracted tax dispute with KRA which began in October 2006 when Keroche Breweries Ltd filed an application for judicial review challenging the KRA's decision to classify the company's fortified wine products under Harmonised System Code Tariff heading 22.04 instead of 22.06 in respect of sales and trading activities for the period 2002 to 2006.
The taxman's reclassification of Keroche Breweries Ltd's products resulted in a Ksh1.1 billion tax assessment from the KRA, of which Ksh802.9 million was for income tax, excise duty and withholding tax, while Ksh305.1 million was for VAT, interest and penalties against the brewer.
On July 14, 2022, the High Court issued orders for the firm to re-open on the condition that the brewer paid Ksh8 million on the 30th day of each month to the KRA until the next hearing which was scheduled for September 22, 2022.
On June 20, Karanja lamented the dire situation of witnessing more than 400 jobs being put in danger as well as the disposal of alcohol worth hundreds of millions after the closure of Keroche by KRA.
Despite Anaya's appointment as the new Keroche CEO, some reports suggest that Tabitha Karanja's daughter, Anerlisa Muigai, could rise to take up her mother's role.
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