We paid six lawyers Sh72 million, says Govt

 We paid six lawyers Sh72 million, says Govt

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By Joseph Murimi

The Government has admitted paying Sh72 million to six lawyers who represented it in a case that sought to block last year’s referendum.

Solicitor-General Wanjuki Muchemi defended the payment, saying the amount was reasonable. He scoffed at reports alleging impropriety on the part of the State Law Office, saying it had acted "diligently, conscientiously and transparency".

He said there was nothing improper with the attorney-general hiring external lawyers and consultants as he was mandated to do so by law.

"We wish to confirm that (the) Sh72 million was a global figure to cover all such legal services as the team had been engaged to provide and included all expenses, disbursements and Value Added Tax of Sh9,931,034.45, which was deducted upfront and remitted to the relevant authorities,’’ Muchemi said.

He said the fee was reasonable given the national importance of the constitutional review process, the urgency with which the case had been lodged and the complex issues that had to be argued out.

MP Joe Khamis and 21 others had filed the referendum case with others against the AG, Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister, the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission and the Electoral Commission of Kenya.

The advocates appointed by the AG to tackle the case were Dr Gibson Kamau Kuria, Mr Waweru Gatonye, Mr Fred Ngatia, Mr Kioko Kilukumi and Mr Njoroge Regeru.

Revelations of the amount paid to the six lawyers has raised eyebrows and opened a floodgate of condemnations. They represented the Government in the review case, which lasted only five days.

Elsewhere, the Kenya Section of the International Commission of Jurists said Wako should be sacked if there was to be any progress in prosecution of corruption cases.

ICJ council member Albert Kamunde said Wako had failed to demonstrate willingness to prosecute corruption related offences. He said according to a report by the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission, several files referred to the AG have not been acted upon.