City Tycoon Chris Obure in Sh7.6 Billion Court Compensation Battle Over Alleged Illegal Eviction and Missing Family Gold Investment

A Nairobi-based Aviation and Real Estates company owned by city tycoon Chris Obure has moved to the High Court seeking billions of shillings in compensation after alleging it was illegally evicted from prime office space along Lenana Road and suffered massive financial losses, including the disappearance of hundreds of kilograms of gold bars, his family investment.

SBS Dunhill Group (EA) Limited has filed a case at the Commercial and Tax Division of the High Court against Ajeetkumar C. Shah & Others and Siuma Auctioneers, accusing them of orchestrating an unlawful eviction and causing devastating losses to its business operations.

According to court documents, the company says it entered into a commercial lease agreement in 2017 for office premises at Senteu Plaza along Lenana Road in Nairobi’s Kilimani area. The firm claims it occupied approximately 8,900 square feet of office space and later invested heavily in renovations and custom installations after allegedly being assured it would eventually acquire the property.

The company avers it paid over KSh 981 million to the landlords, including rent and partial payment toward the anticipated purchase of the property. It further claims to have spent more than KSh 850 million on interior renovations, architectural upgrades, and executive wellness facilities.

However, SBS Dunhill alleges the agreement later collapsed, triggering a prolonged legal dispute before the Business Premises Rent Tribunal.

The firm claims that on May 16, 2025, auctioneers accompanied by police officers and hired individuals forcefully evicted it from the premises.

“The Plaintiff was ambushed… by the 4th Defendant in the company of over 15 police officers and about 150 hired goons tasked with overseeing the forceful and illegal eviction,” the court filing states.

The company further alleges that during the eviction exercise, valuables including 330 Kilograms of gold bars and cash kept in a diplomatic safe disappeared after property was allegedly removed and dumped outside the premises.

SBS Dunhill is now seeking compensation, including KSh 5.9 billion for the alleged value of the missing gold, KSh 821 million in alleged excess payments, compensation for renovation costs, business losses, damages, and legal costs.

The allegations are contained in court pleadings and remain subject to judicial determination. The defendants are yet to respond in court to the claims.