Muchemi between me and Sh600m, Kiplagat claims

By WAHOME THUKU

Lawyer Ken Kiplagat says Solicitor General Wanjuki Muchemi is among senior officials frustrating his Sh600 million award.

Mr Kiplagat said Muchemi heads a group of State Law Office staff out to block the execution of the award.

Kiplagat is engaged in a legal battle with the Attorney General’s office over Sh600,341,251 as costs for allegedly representing the Government in an international arbitration.

He reportedly represented the Government in the case where the World Duty Free shops accused Kenya of breaching a contract and demanded Sh40 billion in compensation.

The matter was decided in favour of the Government at The Hague in 2006.

The High Court then awarded him the cost against the Sh3.4 billion he had billed the Government. Kiplagat swore an affidavit on April 23 in an application seeking enforcement of the March 24 award.

The AG has since applied to have the affidavit struck out, arguing it is scandalous and ridicules his office.

Mr Muchemi has sworn in the affidavit in that application, which is being argued in court by his deputy Muthoni Kimani.

He says Kiplagat’s affidavit contains rumours, irrelevant, frivolous and vexatious issues meant to conceal facts on the counsel who represented Kenya in the case.

Kiplagat’s lawyer Peter Simani began defending the affidavit yesterday before Commercial Court Judge Muga Apondi.

He took the court through a letter written to Kiplagat on July 25, 2000 in which the AG had asked him to help the State in the arbitration.

Related Topics

World Duty Free