NAIROBI, Kenya — A Nairobi lawyer has been awarded Sh114,616.36 after the Milimani Small Claims Court found Lorenzo Dry Cleaners Limited liable for damage to his three-piece suit while it was in the company’s custody.
Lawyer Emmanuel Mumia had sued the dry-cleaning company after discovering dark patches and loose threads on his navy three-piece suit following its return.
Mumia had sought £1,064.95, which he pleaded was equivalent to Sh183,826.66, as compensation for the value of the suit.
However, Small Claims Court adjudicator J.M. Kiliku found that Mumia had proved his case on a balance of probabilities but had not established the value of all the items for which he was seeking compensation.
Suit developed dark patches after dry cleaning
According to the judgment, Mumia delivered the suit to Lorenzo Dry Cleaners on March 16, 2026, and it was returned to his home on March 23.
The company’s intake record described the garments as having “ordinary dirt and lint” but did not mention discoloration or other damage.
Mumia told the court that he later discovered three dark patches on the jacket as well as loose threads on its right sleeve.
He said he had not worn the suit after it was returned and that the dry-cleaning tags were still attached when he noticed the damage.
His wife subsequently reported the problem to Lorenzo Dry Cleaners through WhatsApp.
Dry cleaner apologised before rejecting compensation
The company later apologised, collected the jacket and indicated that it was “trying to work on it” before eventually declining to compensate Mumia.
The court considered the company’s response relevant to the dispute but stressed that the apology and subsequent conduct did not, by themselves, amount to an admission that Lorenzo Dry Cleaners had caused the damage.
The court also noted that the company did not provide technical evidence demonstrating that the discoloration had resulted from a defect in the fabric or had occurred after the suit left its custody.
Court finds damage likely occurred in company’s custody
After considering the evidence, Kiliku concluded that it was more likely than not that the damage occurred while the suit was in Lorenzo Dry Cleaners’ custody.
The company had argued that its terms and conditions required customers to report complaints within 24 hours of delivery.
The court accepted that the terms formed part of the agreement between Mumia and the company, noting that they had been sent to him during the transaction.
However, the adjudicator found that the clause dealing with discoloration only protected the dry cleaner where the damage resulted from the properties of the fabric or a hidden defect.
Since Lorenzo Dry Cleaners had not established either explanation, the court ruled that the company could not rely on the clause to escape liability.
24-hour complaint clause does not absolve company
The court further found that the 24-hour reporting requirement did not, by itself, establish when the damage occurred.
It therefore did not absolve Lorenzo Dry Cleaners from responsibility after the court had determined that the damage occurred while the suit was in its custody.
The finding effectively placed responsibility on the company for the condition of the suit during the period it had possession of the garments.
Lorenzo Dry Cleaners ordered to pay interest
In addition to the Sh114,616.36 compensation, Lorenzo Dry Cleaners was ordered to pay interest at 12 per cent per annum.
The interest will run from July 13, 2026, when Mumia formally demanded compensation, until the amount is paid in full.
The company was also ordered to pay Sh20,000 in legal costs.
For customers, the case also highlights the value of keeping evidence of the condition of valuable clothing before and after professional cleaning.
