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High Court Stops Plea-Taking for Advocate in Ksh 150 Million Fee Dispute
"A conservatory order be and is hereby issued restraining the respondents, employees, servants, agents or related entities from summoning, arresting, detaining, charging or causing to be charged the petitioner with respect to any matter touching on the transaction involving the Kenya County Government Workers Union the fee agreement dated 17/9/2023," the Judge directed.
The Kiambu High Court has stayed the plea-taking of the advocate of the High Court who was arrested yesterday (Thursday) on allegations related to forgery and uttering of false documents contrary to the law.
Justice Bahati Mwamuye, in his orders, stayed the plea-taking of Bernard Odero Okello, who was to be charged at Kibera Court before the Chief Magistrate Stella Atambo, until the application before the High Court is heard and determined.
“The plea-taking of the suspect is hereby stayed as per the High Court orders, and the suspect has been released unconditionally,” the Magistrate directed.
The decision comes after the defence team representing Okello led by lawyer Felix Keaton rushed to the High Court in Kiambu seeking orders to prohibit the magistrate court from charging him, citing that the dispute between the parties arose from the client’s failure to pay legal fees to counsel.
According to the court documents, Okello is still on record representing the complainant, the Kenya County Government Workers Union (KCGWU), in a commercial case in which he plans to collect legal fees amounting to Ksh 150 million after he won the case and the court awarded him more than Ksh 1 billion.
In the High Court orders, Justice Mwamuye directed that the suspect be released unconditionally without arraignment,
“A conservatory order be and is hereby issued restraining the respondents, employees, servants, agents or related entities from summoning, arresting, detaining, charging or causing to be charged the petitioner with respect to any matter touching on the transaction involving the Kenya County Government Workers Union the fee agreement dated 17/9/2023,” the Judge directed.
The judge also ordered the petitioner to serve the respondents and the interested parties with the court order immediately and file an affidavit of service in that regard by close of business on 14/9/2026.
Further, the respondents and interested parties should file their responses to both the application and the petition by October 2, 2026.
The matter will be mentioned on October 28 to confirm compliance.
