High Court Clears Auction of Tuskys Supermarket Assets to Recover Debts

This decision ends a nearly decade-long legal standoff and paves the way for the recovery of a loan exceeding Ksh 320 million.

The court rejected a last-minute application from Tuskys’ former guarantors, Peter Thuo and Nelly Ngonyo Kamau, who had sought to halt the auction and requested to repay the debt in monthly installments due to financial hardship and they werrre not notified about the rulling.

“I was not aware of the ruling against which we intend to appeal because the plaintiffs were never notified when it was delivered,” Thuo stated in his affidavit.

Justice Ngaah Jairus ruled on October 24, 2025, that DTB and its auctioneer, Garam Investments Auctioneers, are lawfully entitled to proceed with the sale of the commercial property.

The property auctioned includes a double-volume supermarket and a semi-detached triple storey office block located on a 2.493-acre land in Athi River, previously occupied by Tuskys.

This court ruling follows the supermarket’s prolonged financial struggles that have forced the liquidation of its assets to meet creditor demands.

At its peak, Tuskys had nearly 70 outlets across Kenya and Uganda; however, financial difficulties since 2020 have led to delays in paying suppliers and employees, culminating in its collapse.

Moreover, the supermarket’s largest store, a five-storey building at the junction of Tom Mboya Road and Accra Road in Nairobi, is also slated for auction by Equity Bank due to a Sh 650 million debt.

The combined asset sales reflect the enormity of Tuskys’ debts, estimated at Sh 19.6 billion, far exceeding the value of its assets, which stand at approximately Sh 6.67 billion.

The asset auction includes various supermarket equipment such as tills, refrigerated displays, commercial fridges, generators, and electronics. Interested bidders are required to pay a refundable deposit and purchase a catalogue to participate.

The auctions represent a significant chapter in Tuskys’ demise, highlighting the challenges faced by what was once one of Kenya’s leading supermarket chains.

The court’s decision effectively allows creditors to recover dues from the supermarket’s remaining assets as attempts to rescue the chain have now been exhausted.