During a session at Milimani Principal Magistrate’s Court, presided over by Magistrate Paul Mutai, it was revealed that a complaint had been filed by SBS Dunhill Group Limited, a company owned by prominent businessman Chris Obure.
Inspector John Munjama, currently stationed at the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) office in Kisumu, testified that the complaint pertained to the expiration of a lease. Obure alleged that he had been unlawfully evicted from Senteu Plaza in Kilimani on May 16, 2025, based on a court order that he claimed had not been stayed.
Inspector Munjama, who previously worked with the Serious Crime Unit at DCI headquarters in Nairobi, noted that he and Chief Inspector Geoffrey Ndago were assigned by their Deputy to investigate a business premises dispute dating back to 2016.
Lead investigator Geoffrey Ndago corroborated this, stating that he contacted Obure, the Chairman of Dunhill, and CEO Kimani Irungu, who visited their office on February 9, 2024. After recording their statements, the officers transferred the case file to Mr. Paul Wachira, the Deputy Director of Criminal Investigations.
On February 1, 2024, the Deputy Director of the Investigation Branch assigned us to take over the investigations from the DCI office in Nairobi. Munjama explained that he assumed responsibility for a case concerning a lease agreement for business premises at Senteu Plaza, which was intended to commence on October 1, 2017, and last for six years.
The agreement involved ACS and other companies, the owners of Senteu Plaza, and SPS Dunhill Africa Group, the tenants. The case centers around allegations against Obure for forging board minutes from the estate of the late Ajeetkumar C. Shah, the founding director of the landlord company, to facilitate a disputed purchase valued at Ksh 1.3 billion.
During a court appearance before Principal Magistrate Paul Mutai, the prosecution presented its key witness, Pankaj Chhaganlal Shah, the Managing Director of the late Shah’s estate.
Shah testified that SBS Dunhill Group Limited, owned by billionaire Chris Obure, was evicted from Senteu Plaza on May 16, 2025, following a court order that he claimed had not been stayed. He stated that the tenant was no longer in the leased premises and that his legal team had secured orders for their eviction.
However, under cross-examination by Obure’s attorney, Muthoni Nkonge, Shah acknowledged that the eviction orders were being contested in court. Further evidence revealed that the property is co-owned by four brothers, and it was stipulated that after the lease period, the property would be sold to SBS for Sh1.3 billion.
“It was also resolved at the said meeting that the prospective Landlord (s) be informed that the Applicant’s International Board of Directors would,” only take up space in their building and invest close to USD Ten Million (say USD 10,000,000.00) therein if the (the Landlords) agree in good faith that they would sell of the building to the Applicant at the expiry of the anticipated six (6)-year Lease term beginning 2017 to 2020 and 2020 to 2023,” Obure testified.
SBS told the court it was irregularly evicted after paying over Sh1 billion towards acquiring the property. Pankaj, however, denied receiving any money related to the sale of the building.…
“The tenant had indicated in a letter that he was in rent arrears and he was looking for money to offset the Rent arrears the money was not paid,” said Pankaj.
He further disclosed that the lease agreements were signed by his two now-deceased brothers, Ajeetkumar and Chandulal, who passed away in 2018 and 2022 respectively. He said he never signed any lease with SBS.
The best forum to settle the dispute is before a civil court. After a comprehensive review by the DPP, application to withdraw the matter under 87A.
Counsel watching brief for the complainant objected saying he needed time to respond to the application, the court directed that all parties file their submissions in support of the application or response, the case to be mentioned on September 30 to confirm filing of the submission.
