Reprieve for Humphrey Kariuki as court hands back his passports, allows him to travel abroad

A Nairobi court has temporarily handed back embattled businessman Humphrey Kariuki passports, allowing him to travel abroad for business meetings.

However, the businessman will be required to hand over his passport to the court by May 22, 2020.

Kariuki had applied for the release of his Kenya and Cypriot passports through his lawyer Cecil Miller to travel abroad to tend to his vast business interests.

The passports had deposited in court when he was granted bail by Chief Magistrate Francis Andayai in 2019.

The media shy Kariuki was thrust into the limelight in February 2019 after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations raided the premises of Africa Spirits Limited in Thika, a company he owns over a Ksh.41.5 billion tax fraud claims.

This was followed by what appeared to be a cat and mouse chase between the sleuths and the tycoon with the latter presenting himself before the court where he denied the charges and was released on a Ksh.11 million cash bail.

The reclusive billionaire is said to have vast interests in the beverages, energy, real estate and hospitality industries under the Janus Continental Group.

Entities in his stable include Dalbit Petroleum, a fuel distributor and Great Lakes Energy, a company that Forbes reports was awarded a Ksh.40 billion by the Mozambican government for an energy project.

He also holds ownership of the Hub mall in Karen and Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari club in Nanyuki together with Africa Spirits Limited.