Nairobi, Feb. 16 -- The High Court has ordered oil marketer, Total Kenya (presently TotalEnergies Marketing Kenya Plc), to release thousands of gas cylinders it withheld from a trader, Hunkar Trading Co. Limited, ending a seven-year dispute over unpaid cylinder exchange balances.

Total Kenya seized 4,425 cylinders belonging to Hunkar Trading in July 2016 as security for an unpaid debt of Sh6.7 million accumulated between 2014 and 2016.

However, the court ruled that while the initial withholding was permissible, Total's continued detention of the cylinders became unlawful once Hunkar demanded their return and filed suit in March 2017.

In its judgment on a case filed by Hunkar, the court directed Total to release the cylinders within 30 ...