Questions of fairness and responsibility have come up after details emerged about a long-running rent dispute involving a house in Kileleshwa, Nairobi.
The issue was shared publicly by lawyer and commentator Wahome Thuku, drawing attention to how the matter was handled over many years and why it remains unresolved.
The house in question is located on Mwangi Road and is owned by a Rwandese national. It was occupied from 2013 by the late Beryl Lilian Achieng Mugwari Odinga, who passed away earlier last month.
According to the information shared, no rent was paid during that entire period. By the time of her death, the unpaid rent had grown to Ksh 5,814,000, a figure that would place a heavy burden on any landlord.
Efforts to recover the money were reportedly met with repeated obstacles. Each time auctioneers were sent to the property to recover rent arrears, officers from Kilimani Police Station stopped them from accessing the house.
This happened several times over the years, effectively blocking the legal process that landlords often rely on. These actions naturally raised concerns about why the police were involved in what appeared to be a civil rent matter.
Only two days before Beryl Odinga’s death were auctioneers finally allowed into the house. At that point, Raila Odinga Junior is said to have intervened and paid about Ksh 180,000. While this showed some acknowledgment of the problem, the amount was very small compared to the total debt.
After her passing, attempts by the landlord to proceed with recovery efforts did not succeed.Beyond the rent issue, the story also touches on public service and accountability.
Beryl Odinga served as a member of the Nairobi Water Board, a body that oversees water services in the city. During her funeral, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja announced that her son would replace her on the board. This decision raised eyebrows, especially since the post claims she also had unpaid water and electricity bills.
Wahome Thuku pointed out that Senator Oburu Oginga, a close family member, has not taken steps to clear the remaining debt. There were suggestions that the matter would be handled after the burial, but no action has been confirmed so far.
This delay has added to public frustration, with many questioning why such a large debt has been left hanging.
The situation reflects wider concerns in Kenya about how influence and connections can affect justice.
Many ordinary tenants face swift action when they fail to pay rent, while landlords struggle to recover arrears. In this case, the process appears to have been stalled for more than a decade. The fact that the landlord is a foreign national also raises concerns about how safe property investments are for non-Kenyans.
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