Nakumatt's goods strewn all over the street outside the mall premises in Nyali on March 7, 2018. PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT | NMG
The problems facing Nakumatt Holdings heightened Wednesday with
the supermarket's goods being thrown out of its upmarket Nyali premises
in Mombasa.
City Mall moved to evict the troubled
retailer, formerly Kenya’s largest supermarket chain, over rent arrears
amounting to Sh27.8 million.
Makuri Auctioneers official Joel Muasya confirmed that the court order was issued on Monday.
More
than 10 police officers guarded the premises as goods were forcibly
removed from the supermarket from around 9 a.m. this morning.
Nakumatt officials helplessly watched as merchandise worth
millions of shillings was thrown out into the parking bay and behind the
premises.
“I am just executing a lawful court order.
This is an eviction against Nakumatt supermarket from this building. We
are not carrying any goods. Ours is to just evict them from the building
and close it down. Whoever has their goods should remove them. The
workers are happy because they have not been paid for months,” Mr Muasya
said.
More than 20 workers expressed their happiness after their employer was thrown out of the building citing delayed pay.
“We
have not been paid our salaries since September last year but God is
God of justice Nakumatt is paying back for our injustice,” a worker at
the scene said.
Curious residents and tourists milled around the area surprised with the turn of events.
They watched as rice, sugar, biscuits, fruits and more were destroyed during the exercise.
“We
are waiting for the owners to donate the food. This is so sad. Some
people are sleeping hungry while food is destroyed,” Ms Jenny Okello, a
resident, said.
Looting
Execution of the order was not without drama after a man was arrested for stealing clothes and goods.
The
middle-aged man, who was contracted to help in removing items from the
supermarket, went to the clothes area, chose the best and left.
He was however pounced on by police and forced to take off the expensive apparel as he begged for forgiveness.
He had worn two pairs of jeans, five checked shirts and also helped himself to two baby cots.
“Forgive me please. I just wanted to feel nice,” he pleaded.
Failed to meet obligations
A notice of forfeiture seen by the Business Daily
states that pursuant to a court order dated March 6, 2018 with regard
to Ideal Locations Limited versus Nakumatt Holdings Limited, the former
has exercised its right to eject the latter from its property due to
failure by the supermarket to meet its obligations under the signed and
registered lease between the two parties.
“Ideal
Locations Limited remains committed to operating within the confines of
the law and is thankful the legal and justice system was able to clearly
see the injustice of a tenant continuing to stay in a property without
paying ret along with failing to meet numerous other conditions of the
signed lease,” an official from Ideal Locations told the Business Daily.
The official who sought anonymity said the supermarket has forfeited three months' arrears.
The matter is still before court.
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