70-Year-Old Widow Evicted From South B Home Despite Tribunal Order

A 70-year-old widow and her family in South B are spending nights outdoors. They were evicted from their home of more than 20 years on June 17.

Janet Nyaguthi says the property belongs to her. She has been paying land rates to City Hall. The widow insists she has no landlord.

The eviction went ahead despite an order from the Business Premises and Rent Tribunal. That order came two weeks earlier and barred removal.

Harun Nyakundi Nyambariga and Carren Moraa Tweya obtained an earlier tribunal ruling on June 5. They claimed Nyaguthi owed Sh50,000 monthly rent.

The tribunal directed her to hand over the premises. It also ordered payment of Sh20,000 in legal fees. Those orders were granted without her presence.

Nyaguthi challenged the process. She told the tribunal she owns the land. A new order issued on June 16 stopped the eviction.

The tribunal directed the OCS South B to enforce the stay. It scheduled the main case for July 2. A penal notice warned against disobedience.

The family has camped outside the property since the eviction. They await the next hearing.

Property disputes involving long-term occupants are common in Nairobi. Many involve claims of ownership versus tenancy.

The case highlights how tribunal orders can be ignored on the ground. Enforcement remains a challenge in such matters.

Nyaguthi filed an urgent application after the initial ruling. She argued she never received proper notice. The widow said the applicants are strangers to her.

The earlier notice from February gave her four months to vacate. The petitioners wanted the premises for their own use.

Tribunal proceedings can move quickly when one side is absent. This creates situations where parties later seek urgent stays.

South B is a densely populated residential area. Land values have risen sharply over the years. Such pressures fuel conflicts over older properties.

The widow maintains she has lived there peacefully for decades. The sudden eviction left the family exposed.

Legal processes exist to resolve ownership claims. Yet physical removals continue even after court intervention in some cases.

The outcome of the July hearing will determine next steps. Both sides will present their evidence before the magistrate.