Kisumu Businesswoman Alleges Hotel Underpaid Her After Grocery Supplies Worth Hundreds of Thousands

A businesswoman in Kisumu is seeking justice after accusing a city hotel of failing to pay her in full for groceries she supplied over several years.

Nancy Aluvisia, a trader operating at Kisumu's Jubilee Market, claims she supplied groceries to Hotel Mills View for years without any payment disputes until a change in the hotel's management allegedly led to delays and disagreements over her invoices.

According to Aluvisia, she supplied groceries worth KSh 385,000 between 2023 and 2024. However, after the new management took over, she says she was informed that the amount she had invoiced was "abnormal."

The parties reportedly reviewed the figures and agreed on a revised amount of KSh 228,000, after which the hotel paid her KSh 100,000, leaving an outstanding balance of KSh 128,000.

"They told me they would pay me the rest little by little. Since then, nothing has been done," Aluvisia said.

Frustrated by the prolonged delay, she continued making follow-up visits to the hotel in a bid to recover the remaining balance.

According to the trader, her latest visit ended in another review of the outstanding amount. She says she was initially turned away before being called into a lengthy meeting, during which the balance was allegedly reduced even further.

"The money was reduced to KSh 45,910. I had no other choice but to take the money since it has been a long struggle. I have made several trips here without success," she lamented.

The dispute has sparked concerns over the protection of small-scale suppliers who often rely on trust-based business relationships with corporate clients.

Commenting on the matter, Robert Ayoko, Secretary General of the Lake Victoria Tourism Association (LVTA), urged suppliers to protect themselves by formalizing business arrangements.

Ayoko advised traders to always have written agreements clearly outlining the goods being supplied, payment terms, and pricing to avoid similar disputes in the future.

The incident highlights the financial challenges many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face when payments are delayed or disputed by larger clients, underscoring the importance of proper documentation in commercial transactions.

Efforts to obtain a response from the management of Hotel Mills View regarding the allegations were not immediately successful.