Homeowners in Karen, Nairobi, are up in fight with a developer for failing to account for millions of shillings paid as service charge

Residents of Karen Hills Estate have sued Karen Hills Limited and Lordship Africa Fund Management Limited seeking to stop them from further collecting the service charge and to disclose the amount they have collected since 2011.

Their case filed through lawyer Issa Mansur has lifted the lid on the sad tale of landowners refusing to give up their interest on property they no longer own but want to control how the estates are managed after selling to individuals.

More than 30 homeowners argued that the developer has been demanding Sh30,000 per month from each household as service charge since 2011 which brings the total to more than Sh72 million which they claim has not been accounted for.

Despite paying a high amount to maintain the Karen Hills Estate, the residents claimed that the developer has not done anything to improve their surroundings leading to the invasion of rodents including snakes which put their lives at risk.