Small Claims Court orders Lorenzo Dry Cleaners to pay Sh114,616 over damaged suit
The judgment followed a claim by Emmanuel Mumia over damage to his striped navy suit.
NAIROBI, Kenya — The Milimani Small Claims Court has ordered dry cleaners Lorenzo Dry Cleaners Limited to pay Sh114,616 to Emmanuel Mumia after finding his three-piece suit was damaged while in their possession. The court also awarded Mumia interest at 12% per annum from July 13, 2026, until full payment, as well as Sh20,000 in costs with a 30-day stay of execution.
The ruling on September 8 followed a claim by Mumia over damage to his striped navy suit, which he claimed was worth £1,064.95, or Sh183,826.66. According to the court's judgment, Mumia delivered the suit to Lorenzo Dry Cleaners on March 16, 2026, and received it back on March 23. The company's records listed only "ordinary dirt and lint" as the cause of damage, not "discoloration or other damage."
Mumia subsequently reported the jacket had developed dark patches of discoloration and loose threads on the right sleeve, which he believed were present when the suit was returned and not worn thereafter. His wife reported the issue to the company via WhatsApp on June 26. Despite apologizing and collecting the jacket for assessment, the company declined to compensate Mumia.
The court found it more likely than not that the damage occurred while the suit was in the company's custody. They also ruled that the company's terms and conditions, which required complaints to be made within 24 hours of delivery, did not absolve them of liability. The court valued the suit at Sh114,616.36, not the full amount Mumia claimed.
Written by urgent.news from Capital FM Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
