[PHOTO/the-star.co.ke]
The woes of Nakumatt continue to plummet the struggling retailer into more business hurdles with the result being a huge loss of commercial grip in Nairobi.
The retailers have only two empty branches in Nairobi's Central Business District after the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) closed its key outlet at Hazina Trade Centre.
The national pensions fund received court orders to evict the struggling retailers over unpaid rent since June 2017.
This happened just two months after Auditor General Edward Ouko asked NSSF to resolve the challenges facing completion of its Hazina Trade Centre which houses the retailer’s Lifestyle branch.
In 2014, Nakumatt, which is the anchor tenant at the premises, obtained court injunctions stopping expansion works on the building on grounds that it was hampering its business.
“NSSF should take legal action against the tenant (Nakumatt Holdings) to secure completion of the building and safeguard members’ contributions,” said Ouko.
In the CBD, Nakumatt has shut down branches on Ronald Ngala Street and Haile Selassie Avenue.
Their other outlets Nakumatt City Hall and Moi Avenue are currently facing acute under-stocking.