By MN Reporter

The iconic Gilly Hotel in Migori town was closed on the better part of Tuesday over rent arrears between the owner Gilbert Omoga and a tenant who had rented among old hotels in Migori.

Over 50 clients, some who were still sleeping, were chased from the hotel in a dramatic eviction following an order from  business premises rent tribunal over three months arrears.

The owner, Omoga arrived in the morning with hired youth to take over the premises from tenants Polvin Doris Otieno Wandigi and Roseline Achieng Wandigi.

The rent arrears had reached to Sh1.2million according to the order seen by Migori News dated June 17, 2019, the tenant were given up to July 15, 2019  to pay a monthly of rent of Sh400,000.

“The tenant shall pay undisputed rent for May, June and July 2019 at the monthly rate of Sh400,000 total Sh1.2million on or before July 15, 2019 in the default the landlord shall levy distress and evict  the tenant from the suit premises with assistant of OCS Migori police station” part of the order read.

The order continued: “The parties shall reconcile the account and confirm if there is any balance of arrears of rent up to April 30,2019.”

While addressing the press at the Hotel, Omoga said that he took the action insisting he is “not a mad man that I can wake up in the morning and start evicting people from my premises without an order, we have been having differences over the rent charges that has not been paid to date.”

But one of the tenant, Roseline said she does not have any arrears that are being claim by the landlord.

“According to me I don’t have his money, he has personal issues that he knows best. On our agreement we paid a deposit of Sh1.2million which was to be paid back,” she said.

She condemned the action saying she will move back to court for compensation.

The hearing of the matter before the Business Premises Rent Tribunal through Chairman Mbichi Mboroki will be July 16.