Nairobi, June 20 -- A commercial lease signed between a landlord and tenant has spiralled into a years-long battle over control of Nairobi's Senteu Plaza after the tenant invested Sh1.29 billion in the property, including CCTV installations and street lighting, in anticipation of eventually buying it.

The conflict has pitted former tenant SBS Dunhill Group (East Africa) Limited against the building's owners in a dispute involving a failed purchase bid, excess rent deposits, alleged signature forgeries, contested leases, eviction orders and disputed documents.

The latest chapter unfolded this week when the Environment and Land Court dismissed SBS Dunhill's attempt to quash tribunal proceedings and orders protecting a new tenant at the pr...