Landlord Refuses to Return Rent Deposit Snakes Invade All Empty Units Until He Refunds Every Tenant’s Monthly Rent and Deposit
My name is Esther, and I live in Mombasa. I had just finished my contract at a company and decided to move out of my rented apartment in Nyali. I had paid three months’ rent plus a deposit of KSh 20,000 when I moved in.
Everything went smoothly during my stay I was a responsible tenant, paid on time, and left the unit clean and intact.
When I went to collect my deposit after moving out, I was shocked. The landlord, Mr. Mwangi, refused to return it. “I need to inspect the apartment again,” he said.
Weeks turned into months. I sent messages and visited him multiple times, but he always had excuses. By then, I wasn’t the only tenant stuck with unpaid deposits other neighbors were also in the same situation.
I tried reasoning with him, but it was useless. He laughed off our concerns and said, “You’ll never get it back if you keep harassing me.” I felt helpless and angry. I could have gone to court, but I feared it would take months or even years.
