The National Bank of Kenya (NBK) has taken over management of Nairobi Upperhill Hotel after a decade-long loan dispute left the establishment burdened with a Sh447 million debt.
In a formal notice issued on August 18, 2025, the bank confirmed the appointment of Kamal Anantroy Bhatt of Anant Bhatt LLP as Receiver and Manager of the hotel.
The announcement, later made public on Wednesday, gave Bhatt full authority over the business, its operations, and all associated assets.
“Notice is hereby given that Kamal Anantroy Bhatt, of Anant Bhatt LLP, was appointed as Receiver & Manager (‘The Receiver’) of Nairobi Upper Hill Hotel Limited (‘the Company’) on August 18, 2025 by National Bank of Kenya Limited (‘the Bank’),” the notice stated.
The bank cautioned that no party may transact or interfere with the property without the Receiver’s written permission.
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“Any person who purports to hold, receive, use, or attempts to buy or sell, contract, or otherwise deal with the assets of the Company or with the Company without the prior written consent of the Receiver will be acting in contravention of the law and will be liable to legal action,” the notice added.
The move follows years of litigation involving hotel owner Geoffrey Wahome Muotia, who borrowed Sh281 million in 2014 through a mix of overdraft, commercial mortgage, and a term loan.
The debt escalated with interest and penalties to Sh447 million by early 2025.
Muotia sought repeated injunctions to block the bank’s recovery measures, including efforts to stop an auction that had been planned for February 2025.
His legal arguments, among them claims of undervaluation, were rejected both by the Environment and Land Court and subsequently by the High Court.
In July 2024, Justice Jacqueline Mogeni ruled that her court lacked jurisdiction, directing the matter to the High Court, which later dismissed Muotia’s appeal.
Despite its prime location, the establishment has struggled financially, joining a growing list of hospitality assets forced into receivership in recent years.
NBK has now positioned itself to recover the outstanding sums through the receiver, who will oversee the hotel’s affairs until the matter is resolved.
The bank emphasised in its notice that the Receiver acts solely on behalf of the company and carries no personal liability.
This development highlights the risks of protracted defaults and signals that secured lenders may increasingly lean on judicial clarity and receivership to enforce recovery in Kenya’s tightening credit environment.
