BY JOE MODIE
The noose is being tightened on allies of Deputy President William Ruto. The latest example is the business woman called Mary Wambui, who is said to be one of the financiers of the Jubilee party campaigns both in 2013 and 2017.
Police were on Wednesday evening engaged in a cat and mouse chase with the pair in a hotel in town alleged to belong to a senior Jubilee politician.
“The two, Mary Wambui Mungai and Purity Njoki Mungai escaped from their hotel rooms a few minutes before police and officers from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) arrived to arrest them,” read a press statement on the KRA website.
“Upon searching the hotel premises, KRA officers and the police found personal belongings of the two, including cash, bank cards and car keys; a clear indication that the two were residing at the hotel.”
The woman, who in some circles is referred to as Wambui wa Ruto, due to their close ties, is faced with a sh2.2 billion tax evasion case. After failing to appear in an anti-corruption court, a warrant of arrest was issued against her and her daughter Purity Njoki.
The two were scheduled to appear before Chief Magistrate Felix Mutinda Kombo to answer to eight counts of knowingly and unlawfully omitting taxes due in the income tax returns submitted to the Commissioner of Domestic Taxes for the period between 2014 to 2016.
“The court was informed that the two failed to honour summons to appear before KRA on December 3, 2021 to inform them of the charges against them and instead sent their accountant,” read a press statement for KRA.
“Through their lawyer Syvanus Osoro, Ms Mungai informed the court that she was admitted in hospital… However, no medical records or disclosure of illness or hospitalisation have so far been made.”
In September, Internal Security Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i told the Parliamentary Committee on security that the business woman had been enjoying protection by GSU personnel seconded to DP Ruto