Operations at the well-known Moonlight Hotel and Guest House in Kitui Town have come to an abrupt halt after the property owners moved to evict the tenant over a lease dispute.
The facility, located at the heart of Kitui Town opposite KCB Bank, has for years operated as both a hotel and guest house, serving a steady flow of customers within the central business district.
According to reliable sources within the property-owning family, the decision to evict the tenant was reached after the lease agreement expired, with the management allegedly continuing to operate in defiance of the contractual terms.
“The lease had lapsed, but the tenant remained in occupation and continued with business as usual,” the source said.
The owners further accused the businessman who had leased the premises of mismanaging the facility, claiming the property had deteriorated under his watch and significantly lost value.
They said repeated requests to have the premises properly maintained were ignored, leaving them with no alternative but to terminate the arrangement and reclaim the building.
Efforts to reach the businessman at the centre of the dispute for comment were unsuccessful by the time of going to press.
The eviction is expected to disrupt business within Kitui’s central business district, with uncertainty looming over the fate of employees and customers who depended on the establishment.
The development highlights growing tensions in commercial property leasing, particularly around compliance with agreements and maintenance obligations.
