Italian Investor Jailed For Defying Court Order In Watamu Land Dispute

By Ben Okweingoti 

The Environment and Land Court in Malindi has sentenced a 71-year-old Italian investor, Roberto Lenzi, to three months in jail or a fine of Sh300,000 for disobeying a court order that barred him from subdividing a disputed parcel of land in Watamu, Kilifi County.

Lenzi, the director of Seven Island Watamu Limited — an upscale beach resort — was found guilty of illegally subdividing the contested property into three portions despite an active court order prohibiting any dealings on the land pending the determination of the case.

Watamu Men Fridays Limited, the complainant in the matter, accused Lenzi and others of deliberately disregarding the directives issued in October 2019 by Justice Mwangi Njoroge.

Through their lawyer, Jackline Chepkwony, the company informed the court that Lenzi proceeded to register three new subdivisions — parcels Kilifi/Jimba/1719, Kilifi/Jimba/1720, and Kilifi/Jimba/2021 — in violation of the prohibitory orders.

Chepkwony urged the court to impose the harshest penalty available, arguing that Lenzi’s conduct demonstrated blatant contempt.

“We are praying for the maximum penalty. The mitigation is not justifiable for any monetary sum. Let him be committed to civil jail to deter others from disobeying court orders,” she submitted.

In his ruling, Justice Njoroge said he had considered Lenzi’s mitigation but insisted that contempt of court must attract consequences to uphold the dignity of judicial orders.

“Having considered all the submissions in mitigation, I find that I should sentence Mr. Lenzi,” he stated. “I therefore sentence Mr. Roberto Lenzi, the director of Seven Island Watamu Limited, to a fine of Sh300,000 and, in default, he shall be imprisoned for a term of three months.”

The ruling underscores the court’s firm position on enforcing compliance in ongoing land disputes along the coast, where conflicts over property ownership remain prevalent.