Outrage over Sh1.3b City Hall paid Kipkorir for legal services

Lawyer Donald Kipkorir has caused a storm online after he was paid Sh1.3 billion by City Hall for legal services he rendered in a Sh62 billion case that lasted 10 years.

The flamboyant lawyer has, however, defended the money, which he says was computed based on the current rates stipulated under the Advocates Act Cap 16 and the Advocates (Remuneration) Order.

In a certificate of Taxation seen by People Daily, the Deputy Registrar of the Environment and Lands Court in Nairobi certified that KTK Advocates, where Kipkorir is the Managing Partner and Founder be paid tax on legal fees totalling  Sh1,338,011,582.

“I Diana Orago, Deputy Registrar of the Environment and Lands Court in Nairobi, do hereby certify that the Advocate / Client Bill of costs dated October 1,2020 lodged by KTK Advocates was taxed on May 10,2022 and was allowed as against Nairobi City County Government,” the certificate of taxation reads. 

Kipkorir has since confirmed through his Twitter handle that he served the bill to the Nairobi County Government, delving deeper in the process of how the Registrar reached at the figure that caught the attention of many Kenyans.

“Legal fees are regulated by the Advocates Act, Cap 16 and The Advocates (Remuneration) Order. Courts assess legal fees based on inter alia, the value of the subject matter, public importance and complexity,” Kipkorir said on his Twitter handle.

The flamboyant lawyer was reacting to a challenge by Dr Ahmed Kalebi to make public the full High Court  judgment that awarded him the money. 

“I think you should share the full judgment from High Court as ruled in favour of the Sh1.3 billion legal fees that you raised – which Nairobi City County had objected to, but the court sided with you. The judgment will clear the air and educate the public on the entire matter,” Dr Kalebi had stated.

In response, Kipkorir said: “Kindly compute Basic Advocate/Client Costs for Sh62 billion litigation that took place for 10 and concluded to satisfaction of client under The Advocates (Remuneration) Order, Schedule 6, Part B and send the computation to that Canadian lawyer. He may learn.”

Currently, it is not clear which land matter Kipkorir’s law firm had offered the services to warrant pocketing billions of shillings in corporate legal fees from City Hall.

Our efforts to get the file at the Lands registry in Nairobi to peruse the same were futile as the file was said to be under lock and key of the Registrar.