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News of actress Pendo’s arrest and arraignment at a Mombasa court for reportedly failing to pay Sh208,000 bill at the English Point Marina has elicited debate on social media.
The debacle as to how the former Nairobi Diaries personality, real name Stacy Vugusta, racked up the amount alongside her lover two years after she laughed off allegations that she was arrested over unsettled hotel bills, is a mystery. The case has, however, turned the spotlight on a rising trend of individuals accruing huge bills in hotels and failing to pay services rendered.
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In June 2020, Moses Adagala was charged before Kibera senior principal magistrate Derrick Kuto for failing to pay Sh885,000 he accumulated after spending 63 days at Sanjo Suites, Langata, Nairobi County. Adagala is said to have checked into the hotel with his wife and three children and was expected to pay Sh15,000 per day for the stay. He only paid Sh50, 000 for four days then stopped and issued a bad cheque. He was released on a cash bail of Sh300,000 with a surety of the same amount.
Four months after Adagala’s wrestle with Sanjo Suites, two foreign nationals; Robert Muchitha Chabinga - a Zambian and South African Vereshen Kameron Chetty were in court for accruing and failing to pay a bill of Sh1.2 million at Ole Sereni Hotel after wining and dining at the posh facility between August 29 and September 30.
There was no ease in 2019. The year kicked off with a multi-million bang after eight friends celebrating an international award from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) were taken to court for failing to pay a bill of Sh4.4 million after engaging in merrymaking at Clarence House Hotel for six days.
Read Also: Our hotel bill has hit Sh400,000- Family quarantined in Nairobi hotel cry
The eight; Caroline Muthoni (the award winner who invited friends), Marylynne Chege, Victor Oduor, Natasha Wanjiru, Jackline Wanjiru, Alvin Onyango, Julius Mwangi and Grace Wanjiru were arrested and consequently arraigned before Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi where they were charged with intent to defraud the hotel.
A Christmas holiday retreat in 2018 at a hotel in Voi, Taita Taveta County ended in handcuffs and a cold date in police cell for a middle-aged man accused of failing to pay a Sh76,000 bill he accrued alongside his lover after checking in at the facility on December 25 and hosting an engagement party on Boxing Day.
Luck also run out on a Nakuru couple, Roy Osano and Beth Muthoni, in 2016. This is after they appeared in court for jointly failing to settle a bill of Sh332, 210 they incurred at Hill Court Resort and Spa on diverse dates between June 22 and July 27. Accusations they denied before Senior Principal Magistrate Bernard Mararo.
Read Also: Mt Kenya Deputy Governor runs huge hotel bill in lodging
In 2015, Laura Oyier Ogolla was arrested two days after Valentine’s Day and arraigned in court after she allegedly failed to pay a bill of over Sh200, 000 for services rendered between January 27 and February 16 at the Intercontinental Hotel. She was ordered to pay a cash bail of Sh100, 000 by magistrate Eddah Agade to secure her freedom while awaiting trial.
