Tenant’s Nightmare: Minor Saved from Two-Day Lockdown by Landlord over Sh15,000 Rent Dispute
Enraged inhabitants of Nyahururu town’s Core-Site estate took matters into their own hands on Thursday night, forcibly entering a rented house to rescue a minor who had been confined by a landlord for over a week due to outstanding rent of Sh15,000.
Witnesses reported that the landlord’s representative had sealed the door shut on Tuesday morning while the 14-year-old girl was still asleep inside.
Living alone in the house while her mother was hospitalized for several weeks, the girl was three months behind on rent, in addition to unpaid water and electricity bills.
“My mother, a casual laborer, has been ill for some time, frequently hospitalized at Nyahururu Hospital. When I was locked in, she was still there. We’ve lived here for more than five years, always meeting our rent obligations,” the minor explained. She had aspirations to begin Form One this year but couldn’t due to a lack of school fees.
Discovering the welded door upon awakening, the girl raised an alarm that drew the attention of neighbors. They provided her with food through the window while attempting to locate the landlord and their representatives, who insisted on her remaining until all outstanding dues were paid.
Despite appeals from neighbors, the landlord and agent remained resolute, prompting residents to intervene dramatically to release the girl.
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“It was cruel to isolate the minor for such an extended period. We pleaded with the agent to no avail, necessitating action to halt further suffering,” remarked a neighbor, Benson Njenga.
Igwamiti Ward MCA Irene Wachuka, spearheading the rescue mission, decried the incident and advocated for repercussions against the landlord and agent.
“Consider if the girl had faced an emergency. Do they comprehend the distress they inflicted upon her? They should have ordered her out of the premises instead of locking her in. Welding the door was an excessive punishment, causing undue suffering,” she asserted.
Wachuka disclosed that the girl’s mother, having recently given birth, was still recuperating in the hospital.
“The mother welcomed a baby girl last Saturday and awaits complete recovery before discharge,” she elaborated.
The ordeal has triggered widespread indignation and demands for justice, with the community insisting on accountability for the mistreatment of the minor.
Tenant’s Nightmare: Minor Saved from Two-Day Lockdown by Landlord over Sh15,000 Rent Dispute