Nairobi city council in dispute with Yaya centre

The company which owns the Yaya Centre development in Nairobi, Yaya Towers Ltd, has become involved in a legal action with the city council of Nairobi. Both sides dispute ownership of the carpark at the Yaya shopping centre. Following a demand by the city authorities to pay Sh5.2 million in parking fee arrears, Yaya Towers filed high court proceedings against the council.

The council threatened the company with closure of the car park, before moving in and charging parking fees. In their law suit, Yaya Towers Ltd argued that the carpark is their private property for the last 20 years and that the council had no basis for their claim of ownership. At the high court, the judge ruled in favour of the company, describing the council's decision to enter the property as "unlawful, unfair and oppressive". A final ruling will be issued on 24 January.

Founded in the late 1980s, the Yaya Centre is a multi-functional shopping mall housing over 100 shops and offices, and 70 apartments. Part of a commercial development located in Kilimani, five km from Nairobi city centre, the shopping centre can be reached by Argwings Khodek road and the Kilimani ring road.