Nakumatt has closed its Ukay Centre shopping mall in Westlands , Nairobi, following flash floods that swept through the store on Saturday night. The loss caused by the floods has not been revealed but it runs into millions of shillings worth of stock. The closure will also cost the supermarket dearly in missed revenues.
The outlet has been closed indefinitely, but Nakumatt Highridge was set to open last night as a 24-hour business to meet the needs of customers who previously frequented Ukay. The land on which the Ukay Centre is located has in the past caused a storm because it is said to be riparian. Ukay is a stone’s throw away from its Westgate branch which was affected by the terror attack in September 2013.
Nakumatt Ukay had branded itself as an outlet where customers in Westlands, Parklands and its environs could walk in at any time of the day or night to shop.
“Arising from the flash floods challenges experienced in parts of Nairobi and specifically at the Ukay Centre shopping mall in the Westlands business district last night, Nakumatt Holdings wishes to confirm the temporary suspension of operations at Nakumatt Ukay Supermarket,” said Mr Thiagarajan Ramamurthy, Nakumatt Holdings regional operations and strategy director. Nakumatt Ukay occupies the Ukay Centre’s ground and mezzanine floors.
This comes just over a week after heavy rains led to the collapse of a flat in Huruma, killing over 40 people.
FULL STATEMENT FROM NAKUMATT
Arising from the flash flooding challenges experienced in parts of Nairobi and specifically at the Ukay Centre shopping mall in the Westlands business district, last night, Nakumatt Holdings, wishes to confirm the temporary suspension of operations at Nakumatt Ukay Supermarket.
Nakumatt Ukay, which previously operated on a round the clock basis, at the Ukay Centre Ground and Mezzanine floors, will remain closed for an indefinite period.
Following the temporary suspension of operations, Nakumatt Highridge Supermarket, will now (from tonight) operate, as a 24hour outlet, to meet the immediate customer needs within the Westlands, Parklands Business districts and their environs.
We have also adjusted the operating times at Nakumatt Westgate. Customers at Nakumatt Westgate will enjoy an extended opening hour regime, with a daily branch opening at 7am and closing at midnight, with immediate effect.
Further, we are closely collaborating with our Ukay Centre landlords among other stakeholders who are onsite assessing the situation.
We sincerely regret the inconvenience occasioned to all our stakeholders and commit to provide further details progressively.
Thiagarajan Ramamurthy
Regional Operations &Strategy Director
