Nakumatt Lifestyle raided by hired goons

Troubled supermarket chain, Nakumatt on Saturday night lost goods worth about Ksh.200 million after looters carted away goods from the retailers’ Mombasa road headquarters during a forceful eviction standoff.

Men suspected to be hired goons raided Nakumatt Lifestyle at around 11pm on Saturday night and removed all items from the shelves.

Nakumatt Lifestyle is situated at Nairobi’s Hazina Trade Centre, off Koinange Street; a building owned by National Social Security Fund (NSSF), which the retail chain owes Ksh.73 million in rent arrears.

The more than 100 men stormed the premises claiming they were executing a lawful court order but had a difficult time producing it to the security guards manning the building.

The guards reported the matter to the nearest police station and officers arrived a little late as the goods had already been forcefully removed and loaded onto trucks headed for the Nakumatt Headquarters along Momabasa Road.

The unknown men are said to have dumped the goods at the entrance to the headquarters, turning the area into a shopping scene as passersby and residents made away with whatever they could.

The ex-giant is currently reeling under the weight of a debt estimated at over Ksh.35 billion as the management remains hopeful of salvaging the business.