Karen hotel investor cries foul over eviction

Shade Hotel Karen workers salvage some of their assets after being evicted. [Peterson Githaiga, Standard]

The closure of Shade Hotel Karen over land lease dispute has put the jobs of more than 300 workers at stake.

The landlord secured an eviction order on January 24, this year, that was effected the following day.

The investor says he managed to secure a court order stopping the eviction, but the landlord defied the order dated January 25.

Lawyer Oigoro Nyangito, representing hotel proprietor David Thairu, argues the January 25 order stopping the eviction nullified the earlier order, and police were supposed to stop the demolition.

"I have been a loyal tenant of the hotel for the past 36 years, paying rent as per our lease agreement without defaulting. However, I am disappointed and frustrated that my investment has been drained in a dubious means," said Mr Thairu.

However, Karen police boss Grace Wanja disputed the allegations, saying due process was followed during the eviction.

"We received the order stopping the eviction very late, past court working hours on Friday night. We could not have verified with the court over the weekend the legality of the order and therefore the eviction had to go on.

"Our officers kept vigil to ensure all party’s were given protection. There was no property that was destroyed or looted," she said.