Auctioneers raid Baba Dogo firm over Sh356 Million court-ordered seizure

Auctioneer Zacharia Baraza and businessman Honey Khatwani outside Galaxy Middle East & Africa Ltd premises in Baba Dogo during a court-ordered raid over a Sh440 million debt. [Nancy Gitonga, Standard] Auctioneers raided commercial premises in Baba Dogo estate, Nairobi, on Thursday, following court orders to recover over Sh 356 million owed to Oki General Trading Kenya Limited. The raid was led by auctioneer Zacharia Baraza of Siuma Auctioneers, acting under warrants issued by both the High Court Commercial and Tax Division and Milimani Commercial Court. The orders permitted the attachment and sale of movable property belonging to Galaxy Middle East & Africa Ltd, trading as Smart Pro, and its directors, including embattled businessman Honey Khatwani, in a bid to recover a staggering USD 2.8 million (approximately Sh 356 million) owed to Oki General Trading Kenya Limited. Items loaded onto trucks during a raid on a Nairobi firm tied to a Sh440M commercial dispute involving businessman Honey Khatwani. [Nancy Gitonga, Standard] Police from Parklands and Ruaraka stations provided security as the auctioneers carted away office equipment, electronics, and business inventory from the premises. "We are executing a lawful order from the court. The defendants have failed to settle the debt, so we are proceeding with the attachment of property as allowed by the court," said auctioneer Baraza at the scene. According to the warrant of attachment dated August 5, 2025, and signed by the Deputy Registrar of the High Court, SIUMA Auctioneers was authorized to attach and sell property belonging to the defendants Galaxy Middle East & Africa Ltd, trading as Smart Pro, along with Honey Khatwani, Jayesh Soni, and Poonam Mangtani, unless full payment of the decree sum, USD 2,799,632.99 plus Sh 3,000 in court fees, was settled immediately. The decree followed a commercial dispute filed by Oki General Trading. "...all JD's [Judgment Debtor's] movable and attachable goods [be sold] to the extent of satisfying the decretal amount and costs," the High Court orders explicitly directed A separate order from Milimani Commercial Court Senior Principal Magistrate Lucy Njora, issued on August 15, 2025, directed the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) at both Parklands and Ruaraka to supervise the distress for rent but clarified that the action should not be interpreted as an eviction or demolition. "The OCS Parklands Police Station and Ruaraka Police Station are hereby directed to oversee the distress for rent execution," read the order. Unless the debt is settled, the seized property will be sold through public auction after the legally required 15-day notice period. The auctioneers are mandated to return a full execution report to the court by September 5, 2025 The raid came just hours after another Nairobi court dismissed a plea by Honey Khatwani to have his passport temporarily released to facilitate a business trip to India for a 20-day business trip. Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Dolphina Alego ruled that Khatwani, who is facing a separate Sh 356 million fraud case, failed to provide sufficient justification to alter his bail conditions. "The accused has not demonstrated any change in circumstances that would justify a review of the bail terms," ruled Magistrate Alego. Khatwani's legal team, led by Advocate Kennedy Echesa, had argued that he was a first-time offender and that the trip was essential for his business operations. However, the court sided with State Counsel Victor Owiti, who accused the defense of attempting to bypass legal safeguards. He has since filed an appeal seeking the temporary release of his passport to allow him to travel, but Milimani High Court Justice Margaret Mungai on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, said that the matter will not be heard since the court is on recess. She, instead, Justice Mungai directed Khatwani to serve the DPP with the application so that the matter would be set for mention after the vacation. "I will not grant the orders sought at the moment because the court is in recess," Justice Mungai stated. Khatwani remains out on bond but under tight restrictions, including surrender of his travel documents.

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Auctioneers raid Baba Dogo firm over Sh356 Million court-ordered seizure

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