In a stunning twist that has sent shockwaves through Kenya’s legal and political circles, a prominent law firm closely tied to Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo has flatly rejected a Sh84 million legal fee award from the vast estate of the late Gerishon Kirima.
The High Court in Nairobi has now thrown out the original taxing master’s decision and ordered a completely fresh assessment by a different officer – handing the firm a major lifeline in the long-running multi-billion-shilling succession war.
Amollo’s firm fights back
Rachier & Amollo LLP, which represented the Kirima estate throughout the bitterly contested succession proceedings that finally concluded in February 2025, argues the Sh84 million payout severely undervalues the colossal work done on one of Kenya’s richest and most complicated estates.
In a strongly worded affidavit sworn by Dr Otiende Amollo himself, the firm blasted the taxing officer for relying on just one valuation report (Crystal Valuers) while ignoring a second court-commissioned report by Legend Valuers. They insist legal fees must reflect the full estate value as defined in the February 21, 2025 succession judgment – not a slashed “distributable assets” figure.
“The taxing officer erred in finding that only distributable assets comprised the estate… and ascribed a lower value by referencing only one report while ignoring Legend Valuers’ report,” the affidavit states.
The late Starehe MP Gerishon Kirima, who died on December 21, 2010, left behind a jaw-dropping portfolio that includes:
– 14 land parcels in Kiruri, Murang’a
– Prime Nairobi CBD commercial buildings
– A massive 472.5-acre Njiru parcel
– Iconic properties like Kirima House, Tukika House, Duruma House and a Kitisuru plot
– Shares in 11 listed companies including Kenya Airways, East African Breweries and Kakuzi
– 19 vehicles, heavy machinery, bank cash and more
The estate has 15 beneficiaries and has been mired in family feuds, evictions, trust disputes and court battles for over 15 years.
Administrators and the Kirima Trust defended the original Sh84 million as “fair and reasonable”, insisting assets held by the Kirima Trust and Kirima & Sons Ltd do not form part of the deceased’s estate and should never have been factored in.
They told the court the taxing master exercised lawful discretion and that the firm’s application did not meet the threshold for interference.
Justice ruled otherwise. The High Court stressed that while taxing officers have discretion, it must be exercised judicially with clear reasons – especially in complex estates worth billions.
“The taxing officer was not obligated to use both reports but needed to justify her choice to ensure transparency,” the judge said, warning that unexplained omissions risk arbitrariness.
Crucially, the court rejected any artificial split between “distributable” and “non-distributable” assets, declaring: “Distributable assets are those assets that comprise the estate.”
Legal costs, the judge added, “should be fair, should not hinder access to justice, and should reasonably compensate advocates for work done.”
A new taxing officer will now re-assess the bill from scratch. The firm has not disclosed exactly how much more it wants – but legal insiders say the fresh valuation could push the final fee significantly higher given the estate’s true scale.
The ruling comes amid continued Kirima family turbulence, with recent court battles involving the widow Teresia Kirima and competing administrators still making headlines.
Kenya’s succession cases involving high-net-worth individuals are notorious for ballooning legal bills. This latest chapter pits one of the country’s sharpest legal minds against a family fortune that has already consumed millions in fees over 15 years – raising fresh questions about access to justice, estate valuation standards, and how much is too much when billions are on the line.
Stay tuned. The Kirima estate wars are far from over – and Otiende Amollo’s firm has just reloaded for round two.
(Article based on High Court ruling of February 23, 2026 and verified public records)
