Githogori and Harrison Associates Advocates LLP v Mbugua (Environment & Land Miscellaneous Case E018 of 2024) [2025] KEELC 3646 (KLR)
The bottom line
#A Kenyan court ordered a client to pay his advocate KShs 3.7 million in legal fees plus 14% interest after he missed the deadline to challenge the taxed bill.
What this practically means
#Executive summary
#Questions the Court framed
#The issues the Court set itself to decide, in its own words.
- 1.Whether the application seeking judgment in terms of the Certificate of Taxation is merited
- 2.Whether the Applicant met the twin conditions for entry of judgment under Section 51(2) of the Advocates Act (final certificate of taxation and undisputed retainer)
- 3.Whether the court has jurisdiction to interfere with the Certificate of Costs in absence of a reference by the client
- 4.Whether the Applicant is entitled to interest at 14% per annum from the date of taxation
Key legal issues
#Finality of the certificate of taxation
The certificate of taxation issued on 26th September, 2024 was final in all respects since the Respondent's reference was struck out as filed out of time under Rule 11 of the Advocates Remuneration Order.
The Respondent filed a notice of objection on 15th October, 2024, beyond the 14-day statutory period under Rule 11, and it was struck out. With no pending reference, the certificate could not be set aside or altered. The court held it lacked jurisdiction to review the taxing master's decision on allegations of error raised for the first time in the replying affidavit.
Retainer
Retainer was not in dispute as the Respondent admittedly engaged the Applicant's legal services before another advocate took over the matter.
The court found the advocate-client relationship undisputed and thus the second condition under Section 51(2) satisfied. The alleged overpayment of Kshs. 479,369.32/= was noted not to have formed part of the taxing officer's ruling and could not be resolved in this application.
Entitlement to interest at 14% per annum
The Applicant was entitled to interest at 14% per annum under Rule 7 of the Advocates Remuneration Order, running from 26th October, 2024 (one month after delivery of the taxation ruling) until payment in full.
Rule 7 permits an advocate to charge interest at 14% per annum from the expiration of one month from delivery of the bill, provided the claim for interest is raised before payment or tender in full. The court applied this and awarded interest from one month after the taxation date rather than from the taxation date itself as prayed.
Legal principles established
#- To obtain judgment under Section 51(2) of the Advocates Act, an applicant must show a certificate of taxation that is final in all respects and an undisputed retainer.
- A certificate of taxation not challenged by a reference under Rule 11 of the Advocates Remuneration Order within the statutory period is final and binding.
Court orders
#- 1.Judgment be and is hereby entered in terms of the Certificate of Taxation issued on the 26th September, 2024
- 2.The sum of Kshs. 3,710,630/= shall attract interest at 14% from 26th October, 2024 until payment in full
The bench
#One judgment of the whole court — no separate or dissenting opinions.
Wrote the judgment
- Jurisdiction invoked
- Section 51(2) of the Advocates Act
Relief refused
#Interest at 14% per annum from the date of taxation (26th September, 2024) as prayed
The court awarded interest only from one month after taxation, consistent with Rule 7 of the Advocates Remuneration Order
Respondent's alternative prayer for refund of the alleged surplus of Kshs. 479,369.32/= and striking out of the application
The court found the certificate of taxation final and unimpugned and did not disturb it; the overpayment issue did not form part of the taxing officer's ruling
Costs
No express costs order was made in the final orders; the Applicant's prayer that costs of the application be borne by the Respondent was not expressly addressed in the disposition.
Quotable passages
#Verbatim from the judgment, each located to the page it appears on in the official PDF — so these can be cited and checked directly.
Judgment be and is hereby entered in terms of the Certificate of Taxation issued on the 26thSeptember, 2024.
The sum of Kshs. 3,710,630/= shall attract interest at 14% from 26th October, 2024 until paymentin full.
The certificate of the taxing officer by whom any bill has been taxed shall, unless it is set aside or altered by the Court, be final as to the amount of the costs covered thereby
Issues in the judgment
#Inconsistent figures for the alleged overpayment within the judgment
Taxed amount stated variously as Kshs. 3,710,630/= and Kshs. 3,710,630.68/= in the same judgment
Case title and number of the application are not stated in the judgment extract; parties are referred to only as Applicant and Respondent without names for the Respondent
Key timeline
#Practical implications
#Frequently asked questions
#Cite this brief
#Cite this brief
Caselaw, "Githogori and Harrison Associates Advocates LLP v Mbugua (Environment & Land Miscellaneous Case E018 of 2024) [2025] KEELC 3646 (KLR)", Case Analysis (2025). Not stated in judgment (application dated 14th February, 2025). Source: https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/keelc/2025/3646/eng@2025-05-09
Suggested citation format for research notes or client memos. Always verify the original judgment before relying on any point.