Kisumu Deputy Governor Owili faces eviction in Sh3.5m rent row

Kisumu County Deputy Governor Mathews Owili's residential tenancy agreement has been terminated over Sh3.5 million rent arrears.

Vauxhall Holding Limited, the owners of the residential house in Kisumu’s Milimani Estate, occupied by Dr Owili (pictured) have written to the county government expressing disappointment with the devolved unit over failure to honour previous commitment to pay the money.

In the letter addressed to County Secretary Godfrey Kigochi, dated September 30, 2019, and seen by The Standard, the proprietors claimed the county government had been a hard nut to crack in regards to rent payment.

“Please refer to our letter dated July 25, 2019 in above regard and response received from Finance and Economic Planning Executive Nerry Achar, giving commitment of payment, but no response received on termination of our existing contract, which has expired today September 30, 2019,” read the letter.

A trauma

“Since we have gone through such a trauma while dealing with county government office, our stand on not renewing the tenancy agreement stands the same and we hereby remind you as per our record that the tenancy agreement has expired today, and wish you to hand over the premises to us without further delay by clearing all outstanding dues.”

The proprietor said the county owed United Millers rent arrears of Sh150,490.10 and another Sh123,354 to Vauxhal Limited.

Another outstanding balance as at September 29 stood at Sh273,844.10 while old pending bills owed to United Millers also stood at Sh3,233,250.10, making the total debt Sh3,507,094.20.

Mr Kigochi yesterday confirmed receiving the letter, saying he had forwarded it to the relevant department to work on it.

“I am still new in the office, and I understand that some of the bills may have overlapped from the previous government. But I have forwarded the letter to the Finance department, and I will follow up on its progress,” he said.

The county government is yet to decide on the proposal to build residential houses for the Governor, his deputy and assembly Speaker.