Another scandal looms at City Hall after the legal department was brought on the spotlight for paying excessive fees to particular lawyers and firms representing the county.
According to Makongeni Ward MCA Peter Imwatok, the county’s legal department has been seeking the services of multiple lawyers to handle even small cases. In return, the firms are paid excessive fees running into millions of shillings.
Singled out by Mr Imwatok are some two law firms: Musyoki Mogaka & Company Advocates, and J. Harrison Kinyanjui & Company.
He claims that the law firms were paid in excess of Sh35 million each in legal fees for representing the county in the AAR medical insurance case, which lasted less than 30 minutes.
“We are raising the red flag because the lawyers stood there for less than 15 minutes each but they raised exorbitant fees of Sh35 million and Sh45 million for a preliminary and not a full case and the county was ready to flag off the payments before the collapse of the financial year,” said Mr Imwatok on Sunday.
Mr Imwatok, who holds the position of the Minority whip on Thursday during the house proceeding, raised a red flag of the exorbitant fees paid to lawyers which could otherwise be channeled into public services.
“The county’s legal fees malaise is well known, and the rot in the sector well established. A dangerous trend is creeping back where private lawyers connive to have litigation matters, even the lightest, issued to upwards of seven law firms or lawyers,” he said before the House.
The County Attorney Ms Lydia Kwamboka has, however, dismissed the Makongeni MCA sentiments saying that the county has not paid the lawyers or the law firms as alleged.
“That is not true. They have not been paid. If they were paid, he should show you evidence of the same. The accusations are baseless,” said Ms Kwamboka.