A liquor store operator is suing Uchumi Supermarkets for Sh4.5 million. He claims Uchumi evicted him from the Lang’ata Hyper branch to accommodate China Square. He says this happened without notice and against a court injunction.
China Square leases the Lang’ata Hyper branch. The company invested Sh600 million to tap into the busy market along Lang’ata Road. The store opened in mid-June after Uchumi moved to a smaller unit. This move led to the lawsuit.
Dominic Mwangi runs Grand Liquor Suppliers & Esteem Gas Supplies. He states in court documents that Uchumi ignored a court order from May 8. This order stopped Uchumi from leasing the 100,000-square-foot space while his case was pending. The lawsuit claims, “The defendant acted contrary to the court order by letting out the premises to a third party.”
Mwangi seeks Sh4.5 million in compensation. This amount includes Sh300,000 in rent accrued since June 7. It also includes Sh3.6 million for one year of rent due to what he calls unlawful eviction against the court order.
He requests that Uchumi’s Chief Executive Lawrence Ngao and Chairman John Karani face up to six months in jail for ignoring the court’s ruling.
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