The High Court in Eldoret has ordered the National Land Commission (NLC) to pay Senator Tom Ojienda’s law firm, Tom Ojienda and Associates, a total of Ksh.9.3 million in legal fees. The court’s decision comes after the NLC failed to honor a previous directive to settle the amount owed for legal services rendered.
Justice Robert Wananda, in his ruling, found that the commission had deliberately failed to compensate the Kisumu Senator’s law firm despite being served with a court order requiring it to do so. The judge noted that the NLC neither filed a response nor made any submissions to counter the application, even after the court granted it time.
In addition to the principal amount, the court directed the NLC to pay 14 percent annual interest on the Ksh.9.3 million until the full amount is settled. Furthermore, the court instructed the commission to reimburse the law firm an additional Ksh.468,700, which was spent in court fees during the process of obtaining the certificate of taxation.
Senator Ojienda, who serves as the Managing Partner at the law firm, told the court that the NLC ignored a court ruling that directed it to pay the accrued legal fees. Despite the commission’s attempt to appeal the High Court’s earlier decision, the appeal was struck out, reaffirming the original ruling in favor of Ojienda’s firm.
The certificate of taxation, dated December 27, 2024, which validated the legal fees, was presented in court. Justice Wananda emphasized that since the certificate was never set aside or modified by any court, it remained binding and enforceable.
In his final remarks, Justice Wananda stated that the court had no choice but to enter judgment in favor of the law firm. The case underscores the importance of public institutions upholding legal obligations and respecting judicial decisions, particularly in matters involving professional services rendered on their behalf.
