A businessman dealing with rental buildings in the leafy suburbs of the Kenyan Capital City Nairobi was on 9th July 2025 put to task to explain to the court why he evicted a flamboyant city businessman cum politician after receiving Ksh 981 million for rent.
While giving his evidence in Chief before Judge Charles Mbogo Pankaj Chhaganlal Shah told the court that he received the said amount from Chris Okeyo Obure arising from a lease agreement of September 2017 to September 2023 when the agreement was signed.
“Despite receiving the demand notice by Obure’s advocate I still went ahead and evicted him using a court order that had been stayed,” cited Pankaj
The Court was also treated in a twist and turn as Pankaj stated he never signed any lease agreement with SBS Company owned by city businessman Chris Okeyo Obure but his late brothers did. Chhaganlal had a hard time explaining during cross-examination by Obure’s lawyer Muthoni Nkonge how the lease was signed by his late Mr AjeetKumar Chhaganlal and Chandulal Chhaganlal Shah who died in 2018 and 2022 respectively.
Judge Mbogo also heard that the plaintiff SBS DUNHILL GROUP LIMITED which is owned by City billionaire Chris Obure was evicted from the suit premises on 16th May 2025 pursuant to a court order which had been stayed thus the Chhaganlal were going against court orders.
“The Tenant is not in the lease building. Through my lawyer we got orders for them to vacate. I didn’t know that the orders were stayed and the case is still ongoing,” Pankaj told the court
Through a vigorous examination by Obure’s Lawyer Miss Muthoni Nkonge the businessman Pakaj admitted that the evictions orders were contested in court.
The court was told that the property in question known as Senteu Plaza within Kilimani area is owned by four brothers namely Mr Ajeetkumar Chhaganlal (deceased),Chandulal Chhaganlal Shah(deceased) ,Pankaj Chhaganlal Shah and Kamalkumar Chhaganlal Shah.
The four brothers entered into agreement with SBS Dunhill limited to sublet their premises for a period of six years for a consideration of Ksh 160 million but after the lapse of 6 years lease, the property would be sold to SBS at a consideration of Ksh 1.3 billion.
“SBS told Court that it was irregularly evicted after paying in excess of Ksh 1 billion towards the acquisition of the suit property.”
However, Pankaj denied receiving any money towards the purchase of the property but said that by the time they evicted SBS from the property it was in rent arrears of Ksh 10 million.
In the intervening period Pankaj told the court that his two brothers who signed the lease agreements have since died.
Justice Mbogo granted the parties in the case the period requested by each party with the case set for an October 6th Mention to confirm compliance before a Judgment date is fixed.
