In a dramatic escalation of an ongoing legal feud, prominent Kenyan lawyer Donald Kipkorir has publicly accused his long-time rival, Philip Murgor, of perjury and obsessive behavior.
The allegations stem from a child custody case involving Peter Njonjo, CEO of Twiga Foods, and his wife, who is reportedly a close friend of Kipkorir. The latest developments add fuel to a fiery and long-standing rivalry between the two legal heavyweights, with Kipkorir calling for a criminal investigation into Murgor’s conduct.
The Allegations
In a scathing social media post, Kipkorir accused Murgor of advising Njonjo to swear two false affidavits within two days, allegedly containing fabricated claims against him.
According to Kipkorir, the affidavits falsely allege that he attempted to influence a magistrate presiding over the child custody case.
Kipkorir has labeled these claims as perjury, a criminal offense punishable by up to seven years in prison, and has lodged a formal complaint with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to probe both Murgor and Njonjo.
“Every averment in the affidavit is false and is PERJURY,” Kipkorir stated. “My lawyer has already lodged a complaint with the DCI to investigate both Murgor and Njonjo for perjury.”
A History of Obsession?
Kipkorir’s accusations go beyond the current case, painting a picture of Murgor as a lawyer prone to losing focus on his clients’ needs due to personal vendettas.
He cited several high-profile cases where he claims Murgor’s alleged obsession with individuals derailed legal proceedings.
For instance, Kipkorir referenced Murgor’s tenure as Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), during which he pursued a controversial murder case against businessman Kamlesh Patni.
The case, which involved the exhumation of a body, ultimately collapsed, and Patni was acquitted.
Kipkorir also mentioned the Tusky’s case, where he claims Murgor’s focus on one brother led to the company’s downfall, and the Sarah Cohen murder case, where Murgor allegedly became fixated on DCI George Kinoti instead of the case at hand.
“Philip Murgor has engaged many families in useless sideshow litigations, including his own ‘family,’ the Murgors,” Kipkorir wrote. “He fought the Moi family. He messed up the AG Karugu family.”
A Personal Vendetta?
Kipkorir suggested that Murgor’s actions in the Njonjo case are part of a decades-long obsession with him. He claimed that Murgor has been “obsessed” with him for over 20 years and is now using the Njonjo case to reignite their feud.
“Philip Murgor now thinks he can use his case of Peter Njonjo to bring his OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER on me,” Kipkorir wrote. “Someone, tell Philip Murgor to look for help elsewhere, not me!”
Kipkorir also recounted a previous incident where he claims to have ended a two-year legal battle between Murgor and his brother-in-law in just two weeks. He further alleged that Murgor’s litigious tendencies have caused strife within his own family and other prominent Kenyan families.
Murgor’s Reputation Under Scrutiny
Philip Murgor, a former DPP and seasoned lawyer, has a reputation for taking on high-stakes cases. However, Kipkorir’s allegations raise questions about his professional conduct and focus. Kipkorir’s claims are not the first time Murgor’s methods have been criticized.
In the past, judges have reportedly admonished him for filing lengthy and irrelevant affidavits, as was the case in his litigation against DCI George Kinoti, where Lady Justice Florence Muchemi expunged a 1,000-page affidavit and struck out the case.
