A city lawyer living beyond his means is facing eviction and property auctioned over accumulated rent of Sh 414,715 since March over the Covid-19 pandemic.
The lawyer initially paid Sh60,000 as rent after moving in, but the landlord increased it to Sh70,000 inclusive of a service charge of Sh10,000 in 2012. He started defaulting from March 2020, when Chief Justice announced the closure of courts to contain the spread of COVID-19
Moving to court, lawyer Harun Ndubi via a certificate of urgency is seeking orders restraining the Young Muslim Association, Good Living Properties Consultancy, and Ben will Auctioneers from evicting and auctioning his property at Apartment 8 Yam Kirichwa Road, Kilimani for the rent arrears.
“The court does issue a conservatory, injunction or temporarily prohibiting Ben will Auctioneer, Young Muslim Association and Good living Properties consultancy from evicting or distressing for rent areas by a way of attaching the households goods of the applicant’s pending hearing and determination of the petition,” reads the petition filed in court.
Other than the seizure of his household goods, Ben will Auctioneers said he will also be required to pay their fees of Sh150,000.
The lawyer further wants the landlords restrained from disconnecting the water or electricity.
On July 9, 2020, Ndubi had received a 14-day notice of proclamation of his households from Ben will Auctioneer for the recovery of the alleged outstanding rent arrears which he has been unable to settle since March when coronavirus pandemic hit.
Ndubi argues that the auction of his household goods and items will affect his responsibilities as an advocate and therefore pose a grave and imminent threat to the independence of the bar and his duty especially now the Ministry of Health insists that everybody should work from home due to coronavirus pandemic.
