A landlord in Kisii County has issued an eviction notice to Governor Simba Arati over Sh2.4 million in rent arrears owed for a county office in Keroka town.
Fred Morara Ongwae, the proprietor of Framer Apartment, has given the county seven days to settle the outstanding bill or vacate the premises housing the Ichuni Ward administrative office in Masaba South Sub-County.
The landlord, who issued the notice on Monday, accused the county administration of failing to honour rent obligations despite several discussions and previous demand notices.
The notice was also addressed to the County Executive Committee Member for Public Service, County Administration and Public Participation, as well as the Office of the Governor.
According to the demand notice, the county occupies the premises at a monthly rent of Sh13,500, but the accumulated arrears have now reached approximately Sh2.41 million.
The landlord warned that failure to clear the arrears or surrender the premises within seven days would compel him to commence legal proceedings against the county.
“You are hereby given seven days’ notice to pay the outstanding rent in full or vacate and hand over vacant possession of the premises,” the notice states.
The dispute comes after offices initially constructed by the former county administration under Governor James Ongwae were demolished following an assessment that established they had been built on privately owned land.
The county subsequently resorted to rented premises to accommodate some of its administrative functions in Keroka.
Ongwae said the county had continued occupying the premises despite the mounting arrears, prompting him to issue the latest eviction ultimatum.
If the county fails to comply, the landlord said he would seek court orders for eviction, recovery of the outstanding rent and associated legal costs.
The development highlights the financial pressures facing county governments, many of which have struggled with delayed disbursements, mounting pending bills and rising recurrent expenditure.
In Kisii County, delayed payments to suppliers, contractors and other service providers have repeatedly featured in public discussions, with concerns raised over the administration’s management of its financial obligations.
Keroka is an important administrative and commercial centre serving residents from parts of Kisii and neighbouring Nyamira counties.
Any disruption to county operations could therefore affect residents seeking government services.
The eviction threat also comes amid increased scrutiny of county finances by the Controller of Budget and the Senate, which have repeatedly urged devolved units to clear pending bills and strengthen financial management.
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