Several business owners from Diani Town, Kwale County, have raised concerns over an investment deal involving commercial spaces at a local mall, claiming they have not received access to the premises despite making payments.
According to the business owners, the property was being marketed as early as 2022, even though construction was still ongoing, in an effort to attract prospective tenants.
The group, which had gathered at the mall hoping to begin operations after extended delays, voiced frustration over the continued postponement in handing over the spaces.
“I wanted to invest in Diani, and this is the building I chose. But I ended up losing Ksh1.2 million. This building has taken our money. It’s been two years, and every day we’re given a new excuse,” one of the affected business owners told Citizen TV.
According to the visibly frustrated business owners, the situation has persisted since 2022, when construction of the mall was not completed, despite some tenants having reportedly paid six months’ rent in advance.
The tenants further claimed that, in addition to delays in completion, some stalls were allegedly allocated to multiple business owners, leaving several without access to the spaces they had paid for.
“I was assigned the first room. Later, I found out several people also claim to have rights over that same room. I know of at least five others. I paid Ksh240,000 for that space. Now everyone says, ‘That’s my door.’ All I want is a refund,” one individual stated.
The investor has appealed for calm, assuring the business owners that efforts are ongoing to resolve the matter. He urged those affected to compile and present all relevant documentation to facilitate a swift resolution.
“If you know you have been allocated a shop that has been given to someone else, please come forward with the documents so that we can resolve it,” he told the traders.
Msambweni Police Commander Robinson Lagat confirmed that complaints had been received and noted that police are currently investigating two cases of double allocation.
Meanwhile, the investor has asked those business owners willing to continue with the agreement to bear with them as they work on refunding those who had made prior deposits within the next six months.
Lagat has also called on those affected who have not filed any complaints to move forward to issue official complaints as investigations continue. The traders have also been asked to help police in the investigations.
