BY KURIAN MUSA
The Italian-owned Trattoria restaurant in Nairobi is looking to a more productive year after winning a case that nearly led to its closure last year.
The proprietor of the 34-year-old restaurant had been embroiled in a legal battle with the management of the Town House building at the heart of the city centre, where the restaurant is located.
What started as a notice to vacate has dragged on for almost five years. The court has ruled four times in favour of the restaurant.
Last month, High Court Judge Jacqueline Kamau directed Joaninnah Maina, the owner of the building, to refrain from interfering with the water tanks, smoke extractor and the gas cylinder located at the backyard of the building.
The management of the building, in an attempt to force Trattoria to close down and vacate, cut water supply and denied workers access to the gas cylinders.
Ms Maina in September gave the hotel seven days to remove the tank, gas cylinder and smoke extractor, claiming it was blocking the fire exit. This prompted Trattoria to move to court.
Judge Kamau toured the building before making her ruling in which she threatened to jail the building’s management if they continue interfering with the facilities owned by the restaurant.
“She came here (at the restaurant) and saw for herself the extent of damage that had been done. The ruling was made here at the restaurant,” says lawyer Phillip Murgor, who acted for the restaurant.
“It is now my hope that this landmark restaurant can continue serving Kenyans with its cappuccino and pizza,” he added.
The battle between the restaurant and Maina started in 2008, a year after she acquired the building from the Kenya National Assurance Company, which collapsed in 1996 due to mismanagement following political interference, and sold off some assets to pay claims amounting to nearly Sh4 billion.
Maina bought the building alongside City House through her company, Gatma Holdings Limited, for Sh210 million.
