PROPERTY BRIEFS: Uchumi in quest for approval to sell Lang’ata store

Uchumi in quest for approval to sell Lang’ata store

Retail chain Uchumi Supermarkets will be seeking shareholder approval during the annual general meeting on January 20 to sell the Lang’ata Hyper store despite a tussle with the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) over the land.

Uchumi and KAA both claim ownership of the land on which Lang’ata Hyper sits.

The supermarket has dismissed KAA’s ownership claim to the land as lacking a legal basis, insisting that it holds the relevant titles for the land.

Uchumi is also selling its flagship Ngong Hyper outlet and another disputed prime piece of land in Kasarani through open tendering whose bidding was expected to close on October 30.

The KAA had in 2004 attempted to have the property demolished as it sought to recover some 2,500 acres of airport land it claimed was illegally allocated to third parties across the country.

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Mombasa County wants title issuance deferred

The Mombasa County government wants the issuing of title deeds on the controversial Waitiki Farm in Likoni suspended until beacons are erected.

The mapping of the farm has been completed and the list of beneficiaries forwarded to the National Titling Centre in Nairobi for the printing of title deeds.

It is expected that about 11,000 people will benefit from the formal division of the 940-acre farm.

Mombasa County’s land, planning and housing executive Anthony Njaramba said that beacons must be put up to forestall boundary disputes.

Other than showing boundaries of their land, those claiming the land were required to produce national identity cards, sale agreements, witnesses and other documents proving ownership in the informal settlement.

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Rents for two-bedroom houses in 7.5 pc growth

Tenants living in two-bedroom houses are feeling the pinch as rents rose by 7.5 per cent in the last one year.

The increase, which is bigger than that of larger houses, points to their popularity with working class families in urban areas.

Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics puts the average monthly rent of a two-bedroom flat, popular with middle class homes, at Sh19,983 in November, up from Sh18,579 the same month in 2014 — Sh1,404 growth.

Three-bedroom maisonettes, preferred by rich tenants, are up 4.6 per cent to Sh32,605 monthly while a two-bedroom bungalow is up 5.2 per cent to Sh28,102.

This means developers of two-bedroom flats have gained the most in terms of rate of returns on their investments. The bureau does not currently track rents for one-bedroom houses.

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Chinese partners battle over Kilimani land

Two Chinese nationals are locked in a court battle over a prime piece of land in Nairobi’s Kilimani estate.

Guo Dong, who has filed a suit, says his business partner, Li Wenjie, has bribed the police to deport him so that he (Mr Li) can complete a scheme to defraud him of the Sh300 million he contributed towards the purchase of the land.

Mr Guo says Mr Li tried to kick him out of Catham Properties, the company they formed to buy the Kilimani land, after learning that he had reported the scam to the police.

He has accused Mr Li of colluding with two law firms — Ongweny & Moibi Advocates and Ongalo & Company Advocates — to deport him.

Mr Guo claims that advocates prepared share transfer forms, letter of resignation and an affidavit in his name.

But he insists that the affidavit detailing his resignation as a director of Catham was signed when he was out of the country.