This archive report was first published on 18 August 2019.
Published on August 18, 2019, a court in Nyeri has sentenced 14 tenants to a one-month civil jail term for contempt in a dispute over a prime property valued at over Sh60 million.
The tenants were found guilty of failing to deposit their rent in court as directed on March 23, 2017. The court also gave them an alternative option to pay a fine of Sh10,000 each.
The dispute over the property, owned by United Social Club, has been ongoing for years. The club's properties are valued at over Sh60 million.
According to court documents, the tenants had defaulted on paying rent in court, amounting to Sh1 million. The court had directed that every tenant occupying the suit property deposits their rent in court, effective from March 23, 2017.
The two management teams, led by Erastus Kiama Gichuki and Gerald Kibocha Wambugu, have been fighting over ownership and proceeds of the club. The fight began after Mr. Kiama's team converted the ownership and property of the club to Umplosh.
Mr. Kibocha's group alleged that the registration of the property to Umplosh was illegal and fraudulent. They also claimed that the club members are not aware of what happens with their proceeds.
However, Mr. Gichuki denied the allegations, saying Mr. Kibocha and his team are not members of the club. He also dismissed assertions that the transfer and change of name was fraudulent, saying it was sanctioned by all the registered members of the Club.
