Nairobi, May 14 -- The High Court has allowed liquidation of the former owner of popular restaurant chain Java House despite opposition by Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA). The agency argued that the move was intended to escape a tax liability of Sh3.3 billion.

The court said ECP Kenya had tabled its financial statement for the year 2023 showing it had zero assets, Sh3.93 billion liabilities and massive losses, with auditors stating that the firm was no longer a going concern.

ECP Kenya is majority owned by US-based Emerging Capital Partners (ECP) and has been involved in a tax fight with KRA, part of which arose from the sale of the popular restaurant.

The court said in the ruling that KRA did not dispute the veracity or correctness of t...