Optiven Refunds Customers Ksh 200M on Kilimotujijenge. Here are the full details

Optiven Ltd took the initiative to compensate all customers who bought greenhouses at the Kilimo Tujijenge project, after the partner who had been paid to do this reneged on executing their part of the deal.

Soon after 2017, it became clear to Optiven that SME Resource Centre Ltd and its CEO Josephine Gathoni aka June Gathoni were bent on not delivering what they had promised. Optiven took a quick step to report this entity and its director to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), upon which a criminal case has been ongoing for the last 4 years at the Kiambu Law Courts. Optiven and several Kilimo customers are state witnesses against SME Resource Centre and Josephine Gathoni in this ongoing case.

Optiven is a caring partner; so pending the determination of this ongoing case, Optiven begun refunding all affected customers through a cushioning Risk Sharing Initiative. Under this Initiative, Optiven has refunded most of the affected customers’ funds that were directly paid to SME Resource Centre for greenhouses. This underlines the fact that OPTIVEN CARES and is a RELIABLE PARTNER.

Customers have either been refunded cash or swapped the amount that they had lost through SME Resource Centre with new plot/s of land across the various projects owned by www.optiven.co.ke or offset any outstanding balances on plots they are already servicing.

The Kilimo Tujijenge Project, which was to begin in 2017 in Kajiado County, was a partnership between Optiven and SME Resource Centre and was aimed at enabling customers who were to come on board to venture into agribusiness through a greenhouse farming model.

Optiven was to provide the land and value additions such as drilling of boreholes and piping water into every plot, which it did successfully.  SME Resource Centre on the other hand was to install and manage the greenhouses on behalf of customers in addition to marketing the produce.

Customers were to get directly paid by SME Resource Centre after all the harvested produce had been sold and expenses deducted. SME Resource Centre however reneged on its contractual obligations, which saw customers lose on their investments. Optiven believes in the empowerment of its customers and opted this route as a positive outcome from the ongoing criminal case is hopefully awaited.

Meanwhile, Optiven is alive to the fact that there are a few customers who were affected by this reneged execution by SME Resource Centre, and who opted not to take up the offered cushion, but opted to seek for their compensation through a court process. Optiven will await the outcome of this case that is pending at the Kajiado Law Courts and commits to fully respect and follow the ultimate outcome of this matter when and once concluded.

Optiven Leadership takes this opportunity to apologize to the customers who got affected by this venture. We VALUE you and this is the reason why we opted to do a refund of the cash paid for those greenhouses that did not materialize.

Also Read Business Daily: https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/news/counties/optiven-pays-sh200m-claims-stalled-greenhouse-project-3677792

In case you paid for your greenhouse and you have not gotten your refund maybe due to change of your contact or for any other inadvertent technicality,

In case you received your refund; tell us your experience, how you took it . We value your response

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    Martin Odhiambo

    When I got a call from Optiven and I thought it was a con. I called back and was told of the story of greenhouses that we paid Optiven partner. I did not believe untill I got my 590 000 cheque. I had paid 2 greenhouses . I was happy for such a great inniative to care of customers. Long live Optiven and ceo George Wachiuri 🙏

    Ann Wanjiru Ngugi

    I received my cheque for the refund! Optiven is trustworthy. They keep their promises to their clients within the country and those who are in the Diaspora. Let optiven continue being a role model to many firms in our homeland Kenya. I see SME as just a ” stumbling block”  that was lying on the way between Optiven and their clients.  Continue doing your good optiven!

    Anne Otieno

    Am very grateful for the gesture. I pray that tomorrow will be better for those who invested. God is fighting for us. Everything happens for a reason. Thanks for the updates on the court case. It shall be well. Optiven has excellent customer service,keep it up.

    Alice Njeri

    I honestly couldn’t believe it. I had thought we had long been forgotten. I received my refund with gratitude and my heart won back to Optiven. You are truly who you say you are…caring and honest. Keep it up and keep growing!!

    Wairegi Ken

    First i would like to thank the whole of the team at optiven for the great work..at first i could not believe when i was told the funds will be returned but once i was called to go and collect my cheque it become a reality..the trust with the company dwindled and i stopped investing with company but after all that the trust is fully restored am a client again …thank you for standing with us.

    Alex Njeru

    At first I thought it was a scam, and waited to be asked for a processing fee or something. The cheque took time to be ready but it actually came! What a relief after all the headache caused by the SME Africa scandal. Real leadership is known during problems, not during smooth sailing. This is impressive and unprecedented in real estate, thank you Optiven!

    Njoki Mburu

    I was shocked when i was first called for a refund. I actually thought it was a prank or a con so at first i ignored and then i was reminded again to send my details which i did send because i thought to myself this guys are going through a lot of trouble to contact and remind me of the same. Getting back the cash has been a pleasant surprise because i had already moved on and decided it was money i had lost forever. I am glad Optiven has worked extremely hard to return back our hard earned money especially due to the time which has already passed on this. Thank you

    Michael Nyaga Wandate

    I thank God for the wisdom that prevailed within Optiven in making  this decision, as much as it wasn’t their fault, but I appreciate the fact that there was no delay from the time I received the call on the refund to the actual refund point. A point to emphasize, the cheque did not bounce! Speaks to the integrity of the organization and the goodwill it has for their customers.

    Anthony Karugo

    If you have ever wanted to take back all the bad things you’ve said about someone, this was the moment for me, the moment I was contacted by Optiven for my refund on the greenhouse I had bought on their Kilimo Tujenge project. At first, I thought I was a scam but I was all believable when the funds were credited to my account, ooh what a feeling! I feel more confident with Optiven and I will not hesitate to do more projects with them or refer them to anyone I know.

    Maina Ndegwa

    When Optiven called me for the refund, I couldn’t believe it was true. I thought it was a scam. I called Josephine who confirmed the refund. So I was very happy and excited. I never thought or expected Optiven to make the refund since it was not them who took my money for the greenhouses. This very kind gesture has made me consider Optiven as a truly caring organization.  I felt very happy and thanked God a lot when I received the refund cheque. It was like a new life experience.  May the Lord bless Optiven and continue to expand their territory. I will and shall strongly recommend other people to invest with Optiven. I have a true testimony to tell about Optiven!

    Delyth Ngeno

    I was excited that I was getting back my money. SME RC and June did the world wrong. And I can’t wait for the day they will be found guilty. Optiven did us great for refunding. It was a great close of the year when I saw funds on my account. You actually care!! Thank you so much.

    Samuel Wambugu

    I was happily surprised when I received a message from Optiven that you will refund money paid to the SME. This was very caring of you as a company and I felt very good. I had given up hope of ever recovering any monies but this gesture by Optiven made me want to even invest more with you in future because you can be relied upon. Thank you for keeping your word.

    Roy Kuria

    It was the most important phone call of 2021 when William from Optiven called my stating that Optiven was going to issue me a refund. I was excited coz it was never an expected call. That cheque was the best Christmas gift ever, it was like music to my ear, it made me believe in Optiven once again, a company of integrity .

    To all potential investors looking to do business with Optiven, Ipersonally assure u, thru experience , u can trust Optiven as a trust worthy partner, and one with integrity, they refunded my green house money that I never thought I would recover and made me whole, thank you Mr Wachiuri and the whole of Optiven team.

    Harrison Mwange

    A great service indeed , despite the hurdles. This gives us confidence on your performance to deliver in a rapid changing market environment and on meeting customer expectations.Maitain the pace as your mission says pace setters in real estate. Continue to live the reality.

    Esther Ngugi

    We the WIT sisters are pleased by the way you have handled our matter. Our money is in the bank and we cannot thank you enough. I would recommend you to all my friends and family. Go Optiven!

    WIT - Caroline Murichu

    Just when I had lost hope and given up on funds for the Greenhouses with SME, that message came in through Mr. Nagilae William, it was the best gift Optiven offered through William. Thank you so much Optiven for protecting your name and maintaining your potential customers. We were very greatful and prayer that God will see the Company go far and above.

    Grace Masese

    Wow! Wow! Very , very thankful to God for the unbelievably good news given the long waiting years of disappointment and uncertainty. Highly appreciated OPTIVEN for the very rare and noble action in such circumstances. Personally ,i  felt like my visits to OPTIVEN and discussions and appeals thankfully to Mr. Kyallo had born some positive fruits. Thank you for the payment despite the inconveniences. I hope this was the initial step and God willing we will be called in the very near future for compensation of the lost years once a determination is made on the case. OPTIVEN team are concerned about the welfare of customers. I honour OPTIVEN for the action and look forward to them doing more in the matter. Hope to get further feedback on what next. Thank you.

    Jennifer

    Optiven is a business partner that you can indeed trust for your investment in real estate. After a long, drawn out court case over last 4 years in the Kilimo tujijenge project, I was not sure when or if I would ever receive back my investment in the project that did not materialise. To my greatest surprise, I received a call one afternoon from Optiven explain that they would cushion me for the money that had been lost. That was a very timely phone call as I was in a situation where I needed badly. Whatever trust that had been eroded in the company, I can safely say has been restored. This was a pure show of integrity and the values that guide this business. It was the crowning jewel of my year 2021. I would recommend investors looking to buy land in Kenya, obviously after doing their own relevant due diligence, to look to Optiven as a very reliable partner in their investments. God bless you Optiven for doing the noble thing.

    The Near Future: Sparkles and Sherehez To Don Kajiado County

    In the heart of Ngatataek, sits a wonder in the form of 200 acres. The land is owned by Optiven as a 50% owner while the rest is for investors keen on buying plots.

    So, what’s up?  Optiven intends to set up the biggest entertainment center on this project. It will host a bush-themed hotel , zip lining, accommodation and a unique getaway! If GMC Place KITENGELA is the standard, then get ready for the next level.

    What will happen to the plots? There’s every reason to smile for investors. But wait for it! Keep it here as together we inspire possibilities. We may not have gotten it right on kilimo but we trust God that this development will be an icon in the near future. It may not happen tomorrow but it will happen

    Invest with Optiven

    For those who would like to invest with Optiven, check on our unique properties on https://www.optiven.co.ke/properties/ and enjoy our 21 years of experience in empowering current and prospective property owners.

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    Tel:     0790 300300 , 0723 400500
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