•The committee after its gazettement within four months was to submit to the Governor a final report detailing recommendations towards the streamlining of the procurement of legal services.
•Sakaja said that the purpose of the Committee is to address the matter of pending legal bills claimed against the County Government.
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Kileleshwa MCA Robert Alai is seeking an inquiry on the status of the county’s legal pending bills investigations.
Alai said the task force completed its inquiry and tabled a report on the same. However, no report has been publicised.
“In addition, a schedule of payment of pending bills has been developed for genuine legal bills to be paid by the county executive,” he said.
In January, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja gazetted a 14-member committee to review the county’s legal pending bills.
Sakaja said that the purpose of the Committee is to address the matter of pending legal bills claimed against the county government.
The Committee is chaired by Kamotho Waiganjo and Sylvia Mueni Kassanga is the vice-chairperson.
Other members include Law Society of Kenyachairperson Eric Theuri, Aldrin Ojiambo, Dulma Farah Mohamed, David Kabeberi, Dickson Mwenze, Elias Mutuma, Jackson Onyango, Emily Chelule, Victor Swanya and Wangechi Wahome Ng’ayu.
The committee also has a joint Secretariat to the committee whose members are Beatrice Auma Otieno and Francis Njoroge.
The committee after its gazettement within four months was to submit to the governor a final report detailing recommendations towards the streamlining of the procurement of legal services within the county government and ensuring that future escalation of pending legal bills is avoided.
However, Sakaja has extended the term of the committee verifying the city’s Sh21 billion legal pending bills.
In a gazette notice dated May 19, Sakaja extended the tenure for four months.
As a result, MCA Alai in the statement has tasked the county assembly justice and legal affairs committee to inquire into and report on the terms of reference of the taskforce formed to inquire into the pending bills at the county executive.
He also wants the committee to inquire into the criteria used to establish genuine beneficiaries for payment of legal bills in the legal department.
“ The committee should also inquire on the vote that is being used to make payment of pending bills under the legal department and the payment schedule for pending bills under the legal department,” Alai said.
Nairobi's total pending bills stood at Sh100.2 billion in January 2023
After getting into office, Governor Sakaja questioned the county’s legal pending bills. He said the legal pending bills were an area of concern yet the county rarely wins court cases.
“My administration will look into the pending bills because Sh21 billion only from the legal department doesn’t add up. If you look at some cases they are very timid but have a very high quotation,” Sakaja said.
Legal payment from City Hall has been in the spotlight attracting investigation agencies.
In January 2021, the Ethics Anti-Corruption Commission commenced investigations on the payment of legal fees to 26 law firms by City Hall.
Also, the county assembly has over time lamented and raised concerns over money paid to legal firms.