Controversial city businessman Kevin Obia is once again at the center of a brewing controversy.
According to a report appearing on Nairobi News, Obia is set to lose his household goods in an auction set for Wednesday, May 24, 2023.
The publication reported that the businessman owes the landlord, Judith Wanjiku Kibaki, Ksh 2.4 million in rent arrears.
Wanjiku is the daughter of the late former President Mwai Kibaki.
Court documents showed that the two entered into a lease agreement in March 2022 in respect of property L.R. Number 460/3734 situated along Chalbi Drive in Lavington.
Details of the agreement include a term of 2 years and a monthly rent of Ksh 350,000.
However, Wanjiku claims that Obia has failed to make rent payments which is payable on the 1st of each month, defying the lease agreement.
“Since occupying the premises in question, the plaintiff has consistently failed to pay the monthly rent. As at 31 January 2023, the applicant was in arrears of rent amounting to Ksh 2,780,000
“He paid Ksh 996,000 on 28 February 2023 after receiving a demand letter from my lawyer,” she indicated in the court documents.
In February, when Obia got wind of Wanjiku’s plan to seize his goods, he rushed to court and filed an urgent application restrain Wanjiku from owning his houses.
His wishes was granted, a move that did not sit well with Wanjiku.
“The said orders were made by concealment of material facts by the plaintiff/respondent which would not have been made had the court been aware of the material facts
“While he lied in paragraph 3 that he has been a tenant for 5 years, the correct position is that he has been in occupation since March 2022,” Wanjiku’s lawyer Maingi Musyimi said.
As such, Wanjiku is seeking permission from the court to recover rent arrears by distressing Obia’s movable assets.
The fracas follows a letter dated March 8, 2023 to Kenya Classic Homes calling for the eviction of tenant number 38 of house number 460/3734 Chalbi Drive.
“In this eviction notice I am seeking to recover the sum of Ksh 2,484,000 from the outgoing tenant based on the following; Accrued rent arrears as at 31st March 2022 (previous lease) Ksh 730,000, Rent arrears 31st March 2022 to 31st December 20222 Ksh 3,500,000, Rent arrears as at 1st January 2023 Ksh 2,430,000. Total rent due as at 31 March 2023 Ksh 2,484,000,” reads part of the letter.
Since moving into the property, Obia has only paid rent four times; Ksh 600,000 on 13 December 2022, Ksh 400,000 on 17 December 2022, Ksh 800,000 on 20 December 2022 and Ksh 996,000 on 28 February 2023.
After an intense back and forth, the court lifted the injunction Obia obtained in March 2023 and allowed Wanjiku to evict him and seizing his movable property.
The auction will be conducted by Wiskam Auctioneers on Wednesday, May 24, 2023.
The auctioneers will be auctioning the following items;
- Sanyo double door fridge
- Samsung double door fridge
- Kenwood 4 burner electric cooker
- 8 piece dining suite and table
- 5 seater sofa set
- Makuti round table with glass top and Makuti beige chairs
- Makuti brown stools
- Two carpets
- 6 x 6 bed with mattress
- Wooden shoe rack
- 2 flower pots
- 7 empty soda crates
- Vacuum cleaner
- Assorted curtains and other household items
