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Tensions have reached a boiling point at Nanak House, a commercial building under the KCB Pensioners Fund, as a long-running dispute between tenants and the landlord takes a darker turn. The tenants, who have operated their businesses at Nanak House for over two decades, have accused the landlord of harassment, unlawful evictions, and blatant disregard for court orders.

The drama began last year when KCB sent a letter to tenants directing them to redirect payments to an unfamiliar owner, a person who had not been formally introduced. This caused confusion and concern among the tenants, who had always paid their rent to KCB. In response, the tenants filed a case in the Business Premises Rent Tribunal (BPRT), citing that payments should only be made to a known landlord or official representative.

However, their legal battle escalated when the landlord allegedly began retaliating by cutting off essential utilities like power and water. This prompted the tenants to report the matter to Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC), leading to the arrest of the building’s caretaker for interfering with an independent entity.

In a further escalation of hostilities, the landlord demanded an extortionate 600,000 Kshs from each tenant, up from the previous 150,000 Kshs monthly rent, plus an additional “goodwill” payment of 15 million Kshs from each tenant. This demand has left the tenants, who are preparing for their leases to expire next year, in a state of shock, particularly since their deposits are held by KCB Pensioners Fund, not the landlord directly.

In response to the mounting pressure, the tenants sought and obtained a court order from the Milimani Commercial Court to maintain the status quo, effectively preventing eviction or any rent increase until the dispute is resolved. Yet, this order appears to have been disregarded. On March 19, 2025, the landlord sent a group of individuals to prevent tenants from opening their shops at Nanak House, even after they were served with the court order. The following morning, the landlord took further drastic action, blocking the entrance to the building with stones.

The tenants are now sounding alarms over their security and accusing the landlord, Ann Karanu, of defying legal authority and escalating the situation to a dangerous level. Karanu, identified as the driving force behind the controversial evictions, has not only ignored the court orders but allegedly attempted to bypass legal rulings by seeking new orders from the same court, a move that is considered illegal under Kenyan law.

The saga took another turn on October 29, 2024, when tenants filed a certificate of urgency in the BPRT, challenging the arbitrary rent increase. Although a consent agreement was filed in December, the landlord’s advocate filed a fresh case before BPRT on December 3, 2024. Despite the tenants’ claims of res judicata—that the matter had already been settled—the tribunal proceeded with hearings, and on December 11, 2024, the tenants were ordered to pay the new, exorbitant rent and goodwill fees.

As the tenants continue to face mounting pressure, rumors have surfaced that Magistrate Mike Makori, may have been bribed with 1.5 million Kshs to influence the outcome of the case. These claims have further fueled public outrage, with accusations of corruption and mismanagement clouding the ongoing legal battle.

With legal and financial tensions growing, the tenants of Nanak House are calling for intervention from higher authorities, citing security concerns and the landlord’s ongoing defiance of the courts. As the situation continues to unfold, the outcome remains uncertain, but the stakes for all parties involved are incredibly high.

The dispute at Nanak House has now become a microcosm of larger issues surrounding tenant rights, landlord conduct, and the integrity of the legal system in Kenya. With the tenants determined to fight for their livelihoods, and the landlord seemingly unwilling to compromise, it remains to be seen how this high-stakes legal drama will resolve.