Tenants of Nanak House, a long-standing commercial building in Nairobi’s Central Business District, are demanding justice and protection following a series of escalating attacks allegedly orchestrated by landlord Ann Wathatu Ngururi, trading as AVVA Limited, in defiance of multiple court orders.
For more than 20 years, the tenants have operated businesses in Nanak House.
But since September 2024, they have faced intimidation, unlawful eviction attempts, and extortionate demands for rent increases, escalating from Kshs 150,000 to 600,000 per month, plus an extraordinary goodwill fee of Kshs 15 million per tenant.
Despite securing a High Court order maintaining the status quo, blocking the rent hike and evictions, the landlord has allegedly continued to employ intimidation tactics, including cutting off electricity and water, barricading entrances with stones, and sending armed goons to block businesses in broad daylight.
Tenants and their employees have recounted harrowing scenes inside the building, describing attacks that have left many injured and traumatized.
One of them, Beatrice Munyoki, a businesswoman, recalled the violent encounter she had at her shops entrance.
“I met the goons at the entrance of our shop, one of them wanted to strangle me and was holding a knife. He twisted my handit is still painful. He told me to go inside as many more masked men entered the shop. They closed all the shutters and started stealing goods on the shop shelves,” explained Munyoki.
Other tenants say the situation is unlike anything they have ever experienced in the two decades theyve operated in the building.
One of them said the intimidation points to a deliberate attempt to push out long-term tenants.
“What I understand is that the building changed management and ownership. Its been here since 2003. Weve never had issues like this. But now the new owner is trying to bully us, if I may say that. Shes trying to frustrate us because she probably wants new tenants,” said Rex Kimani, a businessman.
Workers have also been caught up in the chaos, fearing for their safety as goons target shops in broad daylight. One of the workers also described how terrifying the attacks have been.
“The goons broke in when we had clients, they started by breaking the shutters. We are shocked that such incidences can occur in the central business district in broad daylight. When the goons entered they started harassing everybody, including our clients. We understand that as workers we have our rights, but we dont know if we are safe,” said an employee at one of the stores who identified himself as Walter.
One of the goons, arrested by workers for his role in the violence, was reported to have mysteriously been released without charge, raising questions about collusion and protection of criminal actors.
Tenants have also raised concerns about judicial impartiality, pointing to rulings that contradict existing court decisions. Allegations of corruption, including claims that a presiding magistrate accepted a bribe, have further fueled their loss of faith in the system.
