A law firm that was instrumental in helping oust Governor Mike Sonko from office is demanding millions from City Hall.
Okatch and Partners Advocates is demanding an unspecified sum of money and has been pushing the County Administration led by Deputy Governor Anne Kananu Mwenda to effect the payments.
Insiders told Hot News that the law firm is demanding close to shs 150 million from City Hall which includes fees for other cases.
On 7th July 2021, Acting Clerk of the Nairobi County Assembly Adah Onyango wrote to County Attorney Lydia Kwamboka to okay payment to Okatch and Partners Advocates.
Okatch acted for Acting Governor Benson Mutura who was a 10th responded in a case where Governor Mike Sonko had gone to court to block his ouster.
The case was petition number E425 of 2020 and E005 of 2021.
Adah said in the letter that Judgement in the two petitions was delivered on 24th June 2021 and the court concluded that the impeachment of Governor Sonko fully complied with the constitutional and statutory requirements.
She said the court had ruled that the two petitions lacked merit and they were dismissed accordingly.
“We note that the petitioners have since gotten stay until the 22nd of October 2021 when the court will deliver its ruling. Noting that Hon Benson Mutura has been enjoined in this matter in his capacity as the then acting Governor (10th) respondent who was just before the swearing in of the Deputy Governor, it is the responsibility of the County Executive to cater for the legal fees pertaining to the counsel for the then acting Governor,” Adah told Kwamboka.
Adah said Okatch and Partners Advocates acted for Benson Mutura and that Mutura himself had earlier written to the Deputy Governor Anne Kananu to help facilitate payment.
She requested Kwamboka to act “fast and swift”
When reached for comment, Speaker Benson Mutura said Okatch and Partners are not demanding shs 150 million.
“Kindly re-read and comprehend the content in the letter. Where is the 150 m written in the letter?” Mutura posed.
Another City Hall insider who requested anonymity said Duncan Okatch a senior Partner in the law firm is a good friend of Speaker Benson Mutura.
“This explains why Mutura is pushing for the law firm to be paid,” the insider said.
According to popular news site Kenyainsights.com, Okatch and Partners has been named in shs1.1 billion heist by Nigerian scammer Hushpuppi.
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