Nyahururu Landlord Welds Door With Tenant’s 14-Year-Old Child Inside Over Rent Arrears

• A Nyahururu landlord seeking to be paid rent arrears employed drastic measures that have left many with a bitter taste in their mouths
• The homeowner welded the door of a tenant’s house, locking her 14-year-old child inside with no way to get out
• The incident occurred while the teen's mother was admitted to the hospital, where she went to deliver

A landlord in Nyahururu has sparked widespread condemnation on social media over his uncouth approach to demanding rent.

In a move that has been widely criticized as dangerous and inhumane, he welded the door shut, effectively trapping the tenant's 14-year-old inside the house without any means of escape.

Tenant admitted to hospital

The incident happened when the child’s mother was admitted to the hospital where she went to give birth.

Speaking to philanthropist Onyie Wuod Adhiambo, the teenager disclosed that she was inside when she heard a door being welded.

“I knew it was our door when I tried opening it to get out, but I couldn’t,” the little girl said.

Stuck inside, the youngster called her mother, who told her to be patient and wait for her to return from the hospital.

Neighbours feeding the trapped teen

The silver lining in the story is that neighbours who learnt about the development have been offering food to the child through the window.

One of the neighbours anonymously disclosed that the teen’s mother requested she take care of the kid until she returned.

“This girl is supposed to be back in school for Form One, but she has yet to report,” the angry neighbour said.

Differences between tenants and landlords have always existed, but this case has attracted attention due to the severity of the landlord’s actions and the involvement of a minor.

The community has expressed shock and dismay at the landlord’s disregard for the welfare of the child, who was left in a precarious situation without access to basic needs or the ability to leave.

Many have deemed the act a violation of the tenant’s rights and a severe endangerment to the child’s safety.

Thika landlord removes tenant's roof over KSh 5k

In an almost similar incident, residents of Makongeni estate, Thika, expressed disgust at a landlord who went overboard to demand unpaid rent.

The owner descended on his tenant's house and removed one part of the iron roof, exposing him to pounding rains.

Witnesses revealed that the affected tenant was a garbage collector who lost his job and struggled to make ends meet.

Proofreading by Nyambura Guthua, journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke