The Auctioneers Licensing Board has intensified its crackdown on rogue auctioneers after suspending seven firms and issuing fines to 15 others over various professional misconduct cases within just two days.
Among those suspended is auctioneer Eliud Chai Wambu of Chador Auctioneers, whose case sparked public outrage after he allegedly auctioned two trucks belonging to businessman Rufus kiretai despite claims that the debt had already been fully settled.In a ruling delivered at the Milimani Law Courts, the board’s chairperson, Njeri Thuku, announced that Wambu would be suspended from conducting auctioneering business for six months.
The board also ordered the auctioneer to compensate the complainant with KSh 50,000 and pay an additional KSh 100,000 penalty to the board for breaching auctioneering regulations.
According to the board, investigations established that the auction was conducted unlawfully since the businessman had already cleared the outstanding debt before the trucks were repossessed and auctioned.
The disciplinary action forms part of a wider operation targeting auctioneers accused of misconduct, including carrying out auctions at odd hours, failure to publish mandatory notices, and failure to remit proceeds to clients as required by law.
Speaking after the ruling, Kiretai welcomed the decision but maintained that the punishment was not enough, revealing that he is now preparing to move to the civil courts to seek compensation for the losses and damages suffered following the controversial auction.
The case gained national attention after videos and reports of the disputed auction circulated widely online, triggering public debate about accountability within the auctioneering industry.
Many Kenyans questioned how the trucks could have been auctioned despite evidence that the debt had allegedly been cleared, raising concerns over abuse of power and irregular procedures by some auctioneers.
The latest rulings by the Auctioneers Licensing Board are now being seen as part of broader efforts to restore public confidence in the sector and enforce professionalism among licensed auctioneers.
With seven suspensions and 15 fines issued within two days, the board has signaled a tougher stance against malpractice in the auctioneering industry.
