Kenya court orders tenant to pay Ksh21.9 million in lease dispute

A tenant in Malindi, Kenya, has been ordered by the Environment and Land Court to pay Ksh21.9 million, including legal costs and interest, following a commercial lease dispute.

The ruling follows a petition filed in 2020, in which the landlord alleged that the tenant failed to pay for water, electricity, sanitary services, and other charges required under the lease agreement. The landlord also claimed they incurred Ksh1.6 million to restore utilities after the tenant failed to meet payment requirements.

Additionally, the landlord accused the tenant of making several structural alterations to the premises without obtaining written consent. The landlord sought Ksh20.2 million to restore the property to its original condition. While the tenant filed a defense, the court found the landlord’s claims were proven on a balance of probabilities, noting that the tenant failed to present witnesses or documents to support their position.