Eldoret landlady removes roof of tenant’s house due to rent arrears

By Dun Wanga in Uasin-Gishu County

An Eldoret family was forced to spend Friday night in the cold after the landlady of their rented house removed the roof, demanding the tenants settle a balance of Ksh500.

The family comprises a middle-aged man, his wife, who is in her early 30s, and their 1-month old daughter.

Jane Bosibori, a resident of the informal Huruma settlement, said she had paid the landlady Ksh3, 500 out of the Ksh4, 000 monthly rent for March, but she was shocked Friday afternoon when the landlady sent young men to unroof her single-room house.

“She (landlady) said if we are unable to raise the Ksh500, then we should vacate the house,” Bosibori told K24 Digital.

The mother-of-one said her husband, a boda boda operator, was unable to offset the balance after his business was affected by the 7pm to 5am national curfew, which came into effect on March 27.

“Currently, we have exhausted our finances. Even if we were to move out, where will we get money to rent another house, which is cheaper?” posed Bosibori, a house-wife.

Bosibori’s husband, David Juma, said he was shocked by the landlady’s action, given “we have never absconded or delayed in settling our house rent arrears before”.

Neighbours termed the landlady as an “inconsiderate” person, who is quick to anger.

They claimed she always has the tendency of kicking out her tenants at the slightest belief that her rent money has been delayed.

Bosibori claimed the landlady scolded her, going to the extent of telling her to “marry a rich man who can handle her financially”.

“She told me to ditch my husband for being a boda boda rider,” said Bosibori.

K24 Digital’s attempts to get the landlady to speak bore no fruit as she refused to receive our calls or respond to texts.

Bosibori and her husband say they will continue occupying the roofless house until they raise the needed Ksh500 in exchange of their roof being restored.