Former Nairobi County Chief of Staff George Wainaina faces auction over car rental debt

Former Nairobi County Government Chief of Staff George Wainaina at the Milimani courthouse. FILE PHOTO | NMG

The High Court has allowed a car rental company to seize the assets of politician George Wainaina over an unpaid debt of Sh22 million arising from the rental of several vehicles while he was chief of staff at City Hall.

The court allowed Mr. Rajendra Ratilal Sanghani and Granada Trading Company Ltd to execute the arrest warrants against Mr. Wainaina for non-payment of debt.

Evidence tendered in court showed that Mr Wainaina rented eight vehicles from the company while he was chief of staff under the government of Dr Evans Kidero between 2013 and 2017.

According to the car rental company, Mr Wainaina rented a Toyota Hilux for a total of 1,980 days at a cost of Sh2,500 per day. The company said it incurred a debt of Sh4.5 million.

He also rented another vehicle and stayed there for 1,740 days and incurred a debt of Sh5.2 million and another for 1,830 days and a debt of Sh11.9 million. Mr Wainaina had to pay Sh6,500 per day for the use of the vehicle.

The parties then went to court and the matter was resolved through mediation and the parties agreed that the politician would pay Sh22 million within 60 days. The consent was approved by Deputy High Court Registrar Claire Wanyama on March 10 last year.

When the parties appeared before Justice Josephine Mong’are on Wednesday, the court said once the consent order was passed by the court, the next step would be for the company to execute the warrants in the event of default.

Mr Wainaina had asked the court to grant them a further 60-day extension, after which Mr Sanghani would be free to seize his assets, but the request was rejected by the court.

“The consent recorded by the parties constitutes an order of this court and the next step in default was its execution,” the judge said.

According to Mr Sanghani, the politician rented other vehicles but they had agreed to settle the debt arising from the rental of three vehicles and to further discuss payment for the other vehicles he had rented.

The businessman said the total debt amounts to Sh150 million plus interest for the rental of the vehicles, including a Mercedes Benz, a Range Rover and several Toyota Hiluxes.

Mr Wainaina is currently facing corruption charges, alongside Dr Kidero and others, over the loss of funds in the Nairobi County Government during their tenure.

→ (email protected)