New twist in Michuki’s daughter legal fee row after judge suspends case at lower court

The daughter of former Internal Security minister John Michuki’s Sh184 million legal fee has taken a new twist after a judge suspended the lower court from proceeding with the matter.

Justice Lydia Achode ordered the magistrate court to temporarily stop dealing with the application filed by the law firm, Agimba and Associates Advocates, pending determination of an appeal lodged by Michuki’s daughter, Yvonne Wanja Michuki.

Agimba & Associates Advocates, the law firm that represented the lastborn daughter of Michuki challenged the dismissal of one of its legal bills, even as it emerges that the lawyers are seeking a total of Sh368 million from Wanja.

Agimba & Associates argued that it is entitled to Sh184 million in each of the Michuki parents’ succession cases.

The legal fees are for a property inheritance case that comprises various assets such as the once vibrant Windsor Golf Hotel, are said to be worth Sh30 billion.

Wanja moved to the High Court early this year after the magistrate court’s taxing officer dismissed her objection against the legal bill of costs filed by the advocates.

According to her lawyer, the basis of the objection was that the advocates should not have filed the bill since there was an agreement between them and Wanja on legal fees before, they rendered the services.

Wambugu stated that the magistrate erred in throwing out the objection because the contract between the advocate and the client was binding.

“In the absence of the stay order, the appeal will be nugatory and the appellant will be prejudiced. The stay order is to allow the appellant a chance to argue her appeal against the ruling. It is a straightforward matter,” she added.

The proceedings at the lower court were set to resume on May 16.

However, Agimba advocates did not respond to Wanja’s request for stay.