Guard seriously wounded in tenancy row

Nairobi, Kenya: A security guard was injured in a dispute between the Catholic Church and the management of Al-Yusra Restaurant in Nairobi.

The watchman sustained serious injuries to the hand after a group that had been hired by the Catholic Church stormed a restaurant that was set for opening and closed it down during a confrontation over tenancy rights.

He has since reported the matter at Parklands Police Station. Gigiri OCPD Vitalis Otieno said officers are searching for those behind the assault.

The drama was a culmination of a row between the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) and the Al-Yusra Restaurant Limited over the lease of space at the Waumini House in Westlands.

Al-Yusra had leased space at the building on December 1, 2013 for six years through the Knight Frank Limited, an agent.

And after carrying out renovations amounting to Sh18.5 million, the management of the restaurant was ordered to stop their plans.

KCCB, through their lawyer Charles Kanjama, said the lease could not allow restaurant business due to the character of the property in the area.

“Unfortunately, however, your company managed to secure the premises through our client’s property manager and without our client’s consent, leading to without prejudice negotiations on the same,” said Kanjama in a letter to Al-Yusra.

Kanjama old the managers they will be allowed to remove their equipment, fixtures and fittings under the supervision of their guards.

“The landlord believes that the agent irregularly gave them access because they had not approved the lease. No lease has been signed,” said Kanjama.

But in a rejoinder, Al-Yusra said they had paid all the requisite deposits, rent, service charge and legal fees and the agent had acknowledged the same.

“The leased premise was previously a restaurant and had all the structure and set up of a restaurant, including a kitchen. This is the main reason why our client was interested in the said premises,” said Al-Yusra’s lawyer Rahma Jilo.