BY SAM ALFAN .
The estate of former President Daniel Moi will pay the law firm of Kilonzo and Company Advocates Sh69.7 million if a bill of costs filed in court goes through.
The law firm filed the bill for representing Moi in a case filed by Royal Media Services owner SK Macharia in a long-running court fight.
The firm which is registered in the names of Makueni governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior and his sister Kethi Kilonzo, took over the case following the death of their father Mutula Kilonzo.
The law firm defended Moi in the case filed by Mr Macharia in 2003 as the tycoon accused several lenders, Mr Moi and former head of public service and secretary to the cabinet Joseph arap Letting, for alleged violation of his rights and unjust enrichment through economic duress.
The law firm appeared for Moi in the case multiple times between December 3, 2004 and November 28, 2022.
The law firm has sued Moi’s estate through personal representative Zehrabanu Janmohammed.
“Taking into consideration the value of the claim, the respondent’s interest in the suit and the time expended in defending the matter,” the bill of costs states.
In the case, Mr Macharia, and his company Madhupaper International accused Moi and several lenders of violation of his rights and unjust enrichment after the firm was forced to repay a loan of Sh56 million.
His firm was placed under liquidation to recover the loan by KCB among other lenders.
Then High Court judge Richard Kuloba ruled in favour of Macharia in January 2003 stating that the lenders abused the influence of the then President Moi and Mr Letting, in applying unconscionable pressure and economic duress on the tycoon and his company to overpay a loan by over Sh56 million.
The decision was, however, overturned by a bench of three judges of the Court of Appeal in 2008 and the judges stated that there was no evidence of any compulsion or duress on Mr Macharia and his firm to pay the money.
