By Andrew Kariuki
The High Court in Nairobi has entered judgment in favour of Chege Wainaina & Company Advocates, directing that the firm be paid Ksh 7,760,001.15 following a successful application to adopt a Certificate of Taxation as a court judgment.
In the ruling, the law firm sought to enforce payment for legal services rendered to respondents Michael Kamau Kuria and Gachomba & Company Properties Limited in High Court ACEC Case No. 6 of 2020.
The application, filed on August 8, 2025, requested judgment for the amount taxed, interest from the date of filing, and costs of the application.
The Bill of Costs dated September 20, 2024, had been taxed by the Taxing Master on February 12, 2025, at Ksh 7,760,001.15.
A subsequent reference filed by the respondents challenging that taxation was dismissed on June 20, 2025, paving the way for the issuance of a Certificate of Taxation on July 29, 2025.
In opposing the application, the respondents argued through a replying affidavit sworn on October 9, 2025, that they had previously paid KSh 2,910,000 to the law firm between April 2019 and September 2020.
They maintained that this amount should be deducted from the sum claimed and asserted that fees must reflect reasonable remuneration for professional work.
The advocates, however, submitted that the respondents were attempting to delay settlement, noting that the alleged payments had already been accounted for by the Taxing Master during the taxation process.
They argued that the respondents had not disputed this during their unsuccessful reference.
Upon reviewing the record, the court confirmed that the Taxing Master had initially assessed the Bill of Costs at Ksh 10,670,040.86 and had already deducted the respondents’ earlier payment of Ksh 2,910,000, leaving a net payable amount of KSh 7,760,001.15.
The judge found that the respondents’ argument for a further set-off was therefore misplaced, as the deduction had been fully factored into the taxation.
Justice L.M. Njuguna allowed the application and adopted the Certificate of Taxation as the judgment of the court, awarding the advocates the full amount plus costs.
The ruling was delivered virtually on November 26, 2025, with counsel Mr. Maina appearing for the applicant and no appearance recorded for the respondents.
