Muite opposes Sh600m award to Kiplagat

By Nancy Akinyi

Senior counsel Paul Muite has joined the Government in opposing a Sh600 million award to lawyer Kenneth Kiplagat.

Mr Muite says he represented the claimant, World Duty Free Company, against the Government and Mr Kiplagat did not act for the Government in the case at The Hague.

The former Kikuyu legislator says the Sh600 million awarded to Kiplagat by a court is public money, and he should not be allowed to reap from the public.

He states in an affidavit that Kenya was represented by the firm of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer with Mr Jan Paulson as the lead counsel and Mr Constantine Partasides and Mr Mitesh Kotecha.

Through his advocate Evans Ondieki, Muite urged Commercial Court Judge Justice Muga Apondi to enjoin him in the case as an interested party.

He wants to cross-examine Kiplagat on the contents of the affidavit titled, ‘The Anatomy of the World Duty free Corruption’.

Muite says the affidavit is scandalous, embarrassing and defamatory to his reputation as a senior counsel.

"The affidavit is full of falsehoods and innuendos intended to damage the reputation of my client who has been in legal practice for over 40 years," he said.

Mr Ondieki told court it was proper that Mr Muite be enjoined in the proceedings for proper adjudication of the matter.