Chris Obure, a city tycoon, has taken landlords to court through his firm SBS Dunhill, demanding Sh7.6 billion after a forceful eviction from Senteu Plaza in Nairobi’s Kilimani area. The firm says hired goons and police threw them out on May 16 last year, with hundreds of kilograms of family gold bars vanishing in the chaos. Obure also battles separate criminal charges accusing him of forging papers to claim he owns the building.
The legal fight has drawn plenty of attention in Nairobi business circles. People who know the area around Lenana Road remember the upscale plaza as a busy spot filled with offices and activity. Now it sits at the center of claims and counterclaims that stretch back for years.
Inside the Massive Compensation Demand
SBS Dunhill Group says things started smoothly back in 2017 with a lease agreement for the prime space. Over time they poured money into major upgrades, turning parts of it into executive facilities.
Court papers mention more than Sh850 million spent on renovations alone, plus nearly a billion shillings handed over toward what they believed was a path to ownership.
When the eviction hit, the company claims it came without proper warning. “The plaintiff was ambushed by the fourth defendant in the company of over 15 police officers and about 150 hired goons tasked with overseeing the forceful and illegal eviction,” the filing states.
Furniture and equipment ended up dumped outside. Valuables stored inside, including 330 kilograms of gold bars kept in a secure safe, have not been seen since.
In his address outside the court buildings, the businessman held up thick stacks of documents and pointed to specific pages while speaking to reporters gathered there.
“This particular matter is case number 328 of 2026 at the commercial law courts in Milimani,” he explained, flipping through the papers. He went on about high-value cargo and the gold, reading figures that added up to billions in losses.
The value of the high-value cargo, which specifically refers to some gold, is between 5.5 billion and 5.9 billion Kenyan shillings.
His voice carried frustration as he gestured toward the blue folder and loose sheets. He stressed the rent payments made on top of everything else and the sudden removal that disrupted their aviation and real estate operations. Supporters nearby nodded along while cameras clicked.
Criminal Charges Add Another Layer
This latest suit comes while Obure, whose full name is Chrisantus Philip Okeyo Obure, faces ongoing criminal proceedings. Prosecutors say he presented forged board resolutions and other documents between 2017 and 2024 to convince people he had bought the plaza outright.
He pleaded not guilty to counts including forgery and providing false information when arraigned at Milimani Law Courts earlier this year.
Landlords from the Shah family have maintained they never agreed to sell. Earlier court rulings, including one from the Environment and Land Court, sided with them and found no solid basis for SBS Dunhill to claim purchase rights. Yet the company keeps pushing back, arguing they invested heavily based on assurances and paid far more than just rent.
Local observers in Kilimani recall tense scenes from last year when police and boda boda riders showed up during reinstatement attempts. One resident who watched from across the road described trucks loading items and people arguing loudly near the entrance. “It looked like complete confusion that day,” the person said.
What Happens Next in This Property Battle
The High Court case will now move through the system, with both sides expected to file responses. SBS Dunhill is asking for the gold’s value, a refund of excess payments around Sh821 million, renovation costs, lost business, and more. The defendants have not yet given their full reply in this new filing.
Chris Obure has a reputation in Nairobi for flashy cars and big deals in aviation and real estate. His supporters call him a determined entrepreneur who rose through hard work.
Critics point to the string of disputes and question some of his methods. Either way, the Senteu Plaza story has become one more example of how quickly property conflicts in the city can spiral into multi-billion shilling claims.
People following the matter on social media and in local news have mixed views. Some see it as a classic tenant-landlord clash gone extreme. Others wonder about the gold bars and how such valuables could simply disappear during an official-looking operation. Police have not publicly confirmed any recovery of the missing items.