Ex-minister loses house over debt
A former Cabinet minister was on Friday evicted from his prime city residence following a court battle after the property was auctioned.
Former National Heritage minister Suleiman Rashid Shakombo’s house in Kilimani area, on Argwings Kodhek Grove, was sold through public auction by the Kenya Commercial Bank to Larista Limited for Sh17 million.
The former Likoni MP is alleged to have reneged on repaying a loan he obtained from the bank.
“Mr Shakombo is a trespasser who, by his conduct, continues to interfere and to obstruct Larista’s constitutional right to occupy the premises,” Ms Hellen Olwanda, the company’s managing director, said in court.
Court documents show the private firm was the highest bidder at the auction conducted at View Park Towers on February 7 and the property was transferred after payment of the requisite deposit of Sh4.2 million at the fall of the hammer.
Larista paid the balance to become the rightful owner of the four-bedroom house with servants’ quarters.
Through lawyer Kithinji Marete, Larista told Commercial Court Judge Jonathan Havelock that the politician was served with a notice to vacate the premises but has refused to comply with the notification.
“Despite being aware of Larista’s absolute ownership of the property, Mr Shakombo has defiantly refused to hand over possession of the house,” submitted Mr Kithinji.