Court orders arrest of Nairobi tycoon Pius Ngugi over Ksh.4.1 Million Legal Fees

A Nairobi court has issued a warrant of arrest against businessman Pius Mbugua Ngugi over unpaid legal fees amounting to more than Ksh.4.1 million.

The warrant was issued by Deputy Registrar Cynthia Mercy Muhoro of the Environment and Land Court, who directed officers at Nairobi Central Police Station to execute the order in accordance with Order 22 Rule 32 of the Civil Procedure Rules.

Court records show that Ngugi was ordered to settle a total of Ksh.4,193,578 following a judgment delivered in September 2025. The amount comprises Ksh.3,710,630 as the principal sum, Ksh.475,948 in accrued interest, Ksh.5,500 in additional costs, and Ksh.1,500 in execution-related expenses.

The dispute arose from legal services rendered by Githogori & Harrison Advocates LLP, who represented Ngugi in Environment and Land Court Case No. 72 of 2018. After the firm taxed its costs, Ngugi claimed he had already overpaid the advocates by KSh 479,369.32 and demanded a refund.

Despite raising the claim, court documents indicate that Ngugi did not successfully challenge the taxed costs through the proper legal channels. Instead, he filed a separate application in a different court seeking to stop execution of the decree, arguing that the legal fees had been partially settled.

However, the application was dismissed on September 25, 2025, after the court ruled that it lacked jurisdiction to interfere with the matter. Justice Anthony Ombwayo later faulted Ngugi’s move to challenge the decree in a separate suit, terming it an abuse of the court process.

“The law is clear that once costs are taxed, a certificate of costs issued, and no appeal or review is lodged, the court must enter judgment in favour of the advocate,” Justice Ombwayo ruled.