In Summary:
- Leaders of the Pumwani Riyadha Mosque in Kamukunji Constituency are calling on the government to intervene in a long-running rent dispute.
- The mosque leaders insist that the property was not only leased legally but also serves as a critical community resource.
Leaders of the Pumwani Riyadha Mosque in Kamukunji Constituency are calling on the government to intervene in a long-running rent dispute involving the management of the Mumbai Mall Shopping Centre.
The mosque leaders allege that the developers of the shopping complex owe them over Sh80 million in unpaid rent since leasing the land in 2008. They claim that despite a lease agreement requiring monthly payments of Sh500,000 over 22 years, the developers have defaulted on payments, with six years still remaining on the lease.
“We were young when the land was leased. There was a clear agreement for monthly payments, but since 2015 they stopped paying. Attempts at resolving the matter failed,” said Omar, one of the mosque officials.
In September 2024, the Rent Disputes Tribunal ordered the developer to vacate the land, following years of conflict. However, the developer obtained a court order to maintain the status quo pending the full hearing of the case.
This legal maneuver led to some mosque leaders being penalized for contempt of court, further complicating the situation.
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The mosque leaders insist that the property was not only leased legally but also serves as a critical community resource.
“The mosque supports many families and children. The unpaid rent has left us unable to meet our responsibilities and continue offering support to the community,” they added.
They now accuse the developers of plotting to illegally take over the land, despite failing to fulfill their financial obligations under the lease.
