A Nairobi man has been awarded Sh114,616 after the Milimani Small Claims Court found that his three-piece suit was damaged while in the custody of a dry-cleaning company.

Emmanuel Mumia sued Lorenzo Dry Cleaners Limited after discovering dark patches and loose threads on his navy three-piece suit.

Mumia had sought £1,064.95, which he said was equivalent to Sh183,826.66, as compensation for the value of the suit.

In his judgment, J.M. Kiliku found that Mumia had proved his case on a balance of probabilities. The suit was taken to Lorenzo Dry Cleaners on March 16, 2026, and returned to Mumia's home on March 23.

The company's intake record noted only “ordinary dirt and lint” and did not record any discoloration or damage.

Mumia told the court that he later noticed three dark patches on the jacket and loose threads on the 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 discovered the damage.

He lodged a complaint on June 26, about three months after the suit had been returned. Despite the delay, the court was persuaded by the events that followed. Mumia's wife reported the damage to the company via WhatsApp.

The company apologised, collected the jacket and said it was “trying to work on it” before eventually declining to compensate him.

The judge said the company's response was relevant evidence, although it did not, on its own, amount to an admission of responsibility.

The court also noted that Lorenzo Dry Cleaners did not provide technical evidence showing that the discolouration resulted from a defect in the fabric or occurred after the suit had left its custody.

After considering the circumstances, the court found it more likely than not that the damage occurred while the suit was in the dry cleaner's custody.

Lorenzo Dry Cleaners 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 the parties, noting that they had been provided to Mumia at the time of the transaction.

However, the judge found that the clause dealing with discolouration only protected the company where the damage was caused by the properties of the fabric or a hidden defect.

Since the company had not proved either explanation, the court ruled that it could not rely on the clause to avoid liability.

The court further found that the 24-hour reporting requirement did not, by itself, establish when the damage occurred.

It therefore did not relieve the company of responsibility after the court found that the damage occurred while the suit was in its custody.

Mumia did not, however, receive the full amount he had claimed. He produced a Moss Bros receipt showing a total of £1,064.95 for several garments and a suit carrier.

After examining the receipt alongside photographs of the damaged suit, the court found that only the striped jacket, waistcoat and trousers could be linked to the suit in question.

Their combined value was £659.

The court also considered the £5 suit carrier attributable to the suit, but ultimately entered judgment for £659, equivalent to Sh114,616.36, as stated in the final orders.

The court found that Mumia had not proved the value of the other items listed on the receipt and declined to award the full Sh183,826.66 he had claimed.

Lorenzo Dry Cleaners was ordered to pay interest on the Sh114,616.36 at 12 per cent per year from July 13, 2026, when Mumia formally demanded compensation, until payment in full. The company was also ordered to pay Sh20,000 in legal costs.

Execution of the judgment was stayed for 30 days.