Nakumatt Lifestyle, whose doors were shut last Friday over unpaid rent. Nakumatt has closed its Meru branch on December 26, drawing the curtains on its 10-year stay in the town. FILE PHOTO | NMG
The financially troubled retailer was evicted from the Mwitu Centre building on Boxing Day for non-payment of rent.
Joyce Mwangi, the Property Manager of Bridge Water Investment which manages the premises, said Nakumatt owes in excess of Sh40 million.
The closure comes in the wake of several others countrywide.
Nakumatt has closed its Meru branch, drawing the curtains on its 10-year stay in the town.
The financially troubled retailer was evicted from the Mwitu Centre building on Boxing Day for non-payment of rent.
Joyce Mwangi, the Property Manager of Bridge Water Investment which manages the premises, said Nakumatt owes in excess of Sh40 million.
“They have not paid rent for the whole of 2017,” said Ms Mwangi in a telephone interview. The landlord is in negotiations with two supermarkets, including Choppies, that want to take over as anchor tenants,’’ she said.
A security guard at the supermarket estimated that at the time of closure it had 35 workers with others having resigned over non-payment of salaries.
Doors locked
He said the workers were supposed to return to work Wednesday but were shocked to find doors locked.
The closure comes in the wake of several others countrywide.
The dwindling fortunes of the retailer have led to poor returns for several businesses that depended on the supermarket’s foot traffic, with a restaurant and a bank closing shop.
Miriam Njeru, a proprietor of a chemist shop adjacent to the supermarket, said the store’s declining fortunes had affected business.
“We used to rely on customers shopping at the supermarket but when they realised they had no stock they stopped coming but we hope things will be better,’’ she said.
