What an auctioneer must do before taking your goods
Auctioneers Act; Auctioneers Rules, 1997 · sources read 5 Oct 2026
Before removing your movable goods, a licensed auctioneer must list them in a proclamation and give you 7 days' written notice to pay the amount in the court warrant or letter of instruction. No goods can be removed before that grace period ends, and the sale must be advertised first.
- Fee
- KSh 500Filing a complaint against an auctioneer with the Auctioneers Licensing Board
- Deadline
- 7 days' written notice to redeem movable goods before they are removed.
- Deadline
- After removal: advert within 7 days, and the sale no earlier than 7 days and no later than 14 days after the first newspaper advert.
- Deadline
- Complaints to the Auctioneers Licensing Board: within one year of the event.
- Where
- Pay or redeem through the auctioneer named on the proclamation; complaints go to the Auctioneers Licensing Board
Steps
- Check that the auctioneer is licensed. Carrying on the business of an auctioneer without a licence from the Auctioneers Licensing Board is an offence.
- Ask for the proclamation listing each item, its value and condition. You or an adult at the premises is asked to sign it; if you refuse, the auctioneer signs a certificate saying so.
- Within the 7 days' notice, you can redeem your goods by paying the amount stated in the court warrant or letter of instruction.
- If an auctioneer misbehaves, you can complain to the Auctioneers Licensing Board by affidavit, with the prescribed fee, within one year.
Watch out
- For perishable goods and livestock the notice is only 72 hours, not 7 days.
- The Board can order an auctioneer to pay you compensation, but only up to KSh 100,000.
- No goods may be removed under the proclamation until the grace period ends.
Who this covers
- Anyone whose movable goods are attached or repossessed by an auctioneer under a court warrant or letter of instruction (for example a court decree, rent distress or repossession).
Official sources (2)
- Auctioneers Rules, 1997 (L.N. 120 of 1997), version of 31 December 2022 new.kenyalaw.org · read 5 Oct 2026
- Auctioneers Act (No. 5 of 1996) new.kenyalaw.org · read 3 Oct 2026