Kenya Insights

Tag: Philip Murgor

  • Donald Kipkorir Accuses Philip Murgor of Perjury and Obsession in Explosive Legal Feud

    Donald Kipkorir Accuses Philip Murgor of Perjury and Obsession in Explosive Legal Feud

    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?

    Lawyer Philip Murgor.

    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.

  • Twiga Foods Founder Peter Njonjo and Wife Tina in Explosive Divorce Battle, Accusations of False Affidavits and Legal Drama Unfold

    Twiga Foods Founder Peter Njonjo and Wife Tina in Explosive Divorce Battle, Accusations of False Affidavits and Legal Drama Unfold

    The once-private lives of Twiga Foods founding CEO Peter Njonjo and his wife, Tina Njonjo, have been thrust into the public eye as their messy divorce proceedings explode online, complete with allegations of false affidavits, legal misconduct, and high-profile lawyers trading barbs.

    The drama began when flamboyant Nairobi-based lawyer Donald Kipkorir, a close friend of Tina, took to Twitter to accuse former Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Philip Murgor, who is representing Peter Njonjo, of orchestrating a false affidavit in the ongoing divorce case.

    A post by Kipkorir in the company of Tina and other friends.

    Kipkorir claims that Murgor made Njonjo swear an affidavit alleging that Kipkorir had attempted to influence the trial magistrate handling the case.

    “Philip Murgor has even made his client swear a truly false affidavit alleging I called and met the trial magistrate this year to fix the case! Even saying where I met the trial magistrate,” Kipkorir tweeted. “I have not called or met the magistrate this year. And the place he alleges I met her, I have not been there in my life!”

    Kipkorir, who is representing Tina in the divorce proceedings, described the alleged fabrication as “the most egregious offense by a lawyer” and vowed to seek an injunction to restrain Murgor from further involving him in the case.

    The divorce battle between the Njonjos, who have been married for over 17 years and share four children aged between six and 17, has become a spectacle of legal wrangling and public accusations.

    The case, currently before a magistrate, has drawn attention not only because of the high-profile nature of the couple but also due to the involvement of some of Kenya’s most prominent legal minds.

    A Power Couple’s Rise and Fall

    Peter Njonjo, a seasoned entrepreneur, founded Twiga Foods in 2013, building it into one of Kenya’s most successful technology-driven food distribution companies. However, his tenure at the helm of the company ended abruptly last year following a fallout with the board.

    Tina Njonjo, a respected lawyer and former head of legal at Safaricom, has since transitioned into entrepreneurship. She is the founder of Call Board, an art company that has gained recognition for its innovative approach to promoting African art.

    The couple, once celebrated as a power duo in Kenya’s business and legal circles, now find themselves embroiled in a bitter dispute that has spilled onto social media and into courtrooms.

    Legal Drama

    The allegations of a false affidavit have added a layer of complexity to the divorce proceedings. Kipkorir’s claims have sparked a debate about legal ethics and the lengths to which parties in high-stakes divorce cases might go to gain an upper hand.

    Philip Murgor, a seasoned lawyer and former DPP, has yet to publicly respond to Kipkorir’s accusations.

    However, sources close to the case suggest that the legal teams on both sides are preparing for a protracted battle, with the welfare of the couple’s four children likely to be a central issue.

    Further to the drama, Kipkorir has initiated a legal suit against Murgor to have him disbarred over alleged professional misconduct.

    The case has also raised questions about the role of social media in amplifying personal disputes. Kipkorir’s decision to air the allegations on Twitter has drawn mixed reactions, with some praising his transparency and others criticizing him for turning a private matter into a public spectacle.

    As the divorce proceedings continue, all eyes will be on the magistrate’s court to see how the allegations of false affidavits and legal misconduct are addressed.

  • Lawyer Donald Kipkorir Demands Murgor’s Disbarment, Launches Multi-Pronged Legal Assault

    Lawyer Donald Kipkorir Demands Murgor’s Disbarment, Launches Multi-Pronged Legal Assault

    A bitter legal battle is brewing between prominent lawyers Donald Kipkorir and Philip Murgor, escalating from accusations of perjury and defamation to a demand for Murgor’s disbarment.

    Kipkorir has instructed his legal team to pursue libel, civil, and criminal proceedings against Murgor and businessman Peter Njonjo, alleging the pair fabricated claims in a sworn affidavit filed in a Nairobi children’s case (No. 1779 of 2024).

    The affidavit, prepared by Murgor acting for Njonjo, contains allegations that Kipkorir attempted to influence the outcome of the case.

    Kipkorir vehemently denies these accusations, asserting they are not only defamatory but constitute criminal conduct.

    He claims the allegations are based on false information, including the assertion that he was at the Panari Hotel on a specific date when he insists he was in South Africa.

    Kipkorir alleges that Murgor and Njonjo illegally accessed his call logs and tracked his movements without his consent, describing Murgor’s actions as a “dangerous obsession” and demanding an injunction to prevent further alleged stalking.

    He has filed complaints with the Communication Authority, the Data Protection Commissioner, and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.

    Beyond the immediate legal action, Kipkorir is seeking far-reaching consequences.

    He demands Murgor be struck off the Roll of Advocates and Njonjo be barred from holding any directorship or employment in any company.

    His legal team is preparing to file a motion for an injunction to restrain Murgor from what he describes as obsessive behaviour.

    The dispute appears to stem from Njonjo’s divorce proceedings, with Kipkorir claiming Murgor is attempting to inappropriately involve him in the case.

    Kipkorir points to a previous instance where Murgor allegedly attempted to use his social media posts in unrelated contempt proceedings, suggesting a pattern of behaviour.

    Kipkorir’s Full Statement:

    “There is a lawyer called Philip Murgor who has a crazed obsession with me! When, on behalf of Sarah Wairimu Cohen in the murder case, he sued former DCI George Kinoti for contempt, I acted for the DCI. Instead of dealing with the merit of the case, he attempted to bring my social media posts into play. The contempt proceedings were dismissed. Now, he is acting for Peter Njonjo in his divorce proceedings with my friend Tina, and he wants to bring me into play. Philip Murgor has even made his client swear a truly false affidavit alleging I called and met the trial magistrate this year to fix the case! Even saying where I met the trial magistrate. I have not called or met the magistrate this year. And the place he alleges I met her, I have not been there in my life! For a lawyer to make a client swear a false affidavit must be the most egregious offense by a lawyer. I need to get an injunction to restrain Philip Murgor from obsessing over me!”

    The legal battle promises to be protracted and intensely scrutinized, raising significant questions about professional conduct and the potential abuse of legal processes.

  • Justice Lenaola Sucked Into Keen Property Inheritance Row

    Justice Lenaola Sucked Into Keen Property Inheritance Row

    • Naishorua, the first of at least 14 children of Keen, has through Counsel Murgor has also claimed that Justice Lenaola and the late Maina Wachira also colluded and transferred a prime property
    • Land, LR No. 2259/564, was transferred just 11 days before Keen died and Murgor has argued that he therefore could not have known or appreciated the contents of the complex legal document

    Supreme Court Judge Justice Isaac Lenaola and the late former assistant minister John Keen’s daughter have been accused of transferring 43 immovable properties worth Sh1.48 billion and further withdrew Sh89 million from various banks belonging to the deceased.

    In an application filed by Keen’s firstborn daughter Victoria Naishorua Keen through Senior Counsel Philip Murgor the daughter stated that even after filing the Petition for Probate of Written Will of February 2017, and while various applications were pending before the High Court in Nairobi by beneficiaries for reasonable provision, the late lawyer Maina Wachira in collusion with the Lenaola, Rosemary Sanau

    Keen and Pamela Soila Keen fraudulently transferred the properties and withdrew cash from the bank accounts.

    Naishorua, the first of at least 14 children of Keen, has through Counsel Murgor has also claimed that Justice Lenaola and the late Maina Wachira also colluded and transferred a prime property in the exclusive Karen suburb valued at Sh45 million in December 2016 when Keen was extremely ill and literally on his death bed.

    Keen had allegedly left a Will with Maina Wachira of Maina Wachira Company Advocates, and Keen died on December 25, 2016 at the age of 88.

    The late John Keen.

    The land, LR No. 2259/564, was transferred just 11 days before Keen died and Murgor has argued that he therefore could not have known or appreciated the contents of the complex legal document that he was appending his signature to, if indeed the document is authentic.

    “On the said 14th December, 2016, when the Deceased purportedly signed the said Transfer, he was extremely ill and literally on his death bed, and therefore could not have known of appreciated the contents of the complex legal document that he was appending his signature to, if indeed the signed transfer/ signature of the Deceased is authentic,” the application reads.

    He adds that Lenaola procured the signature of Keen “as he lay dying with only 11 days to live”, an action no responsible or ethical advocate should have participated in, or allowed to take place, at all.

    “He should have waited to complete the transaction after issuance of a Confirmation of the Grant by the Honourable Court, through the executors or administrators, as the case may be,” he added. Murgor has also said the signature on the will was forged adding that on September 12 this year, the advocates of the applicant, on her behalf, instructed a specialist from Spectral Forensic Services to examine and provide a forensic document examination report in respect of the questioned signatures of the Deceased, including those on the purported Last Will and Testament dated 2nd December, 2015, in comparison with known signatures of the Deceased

    “Spectral Forensic Services rendered the report in which he found, inter alia, that the purported signatures of the Deceased on the copy of the purported Last Will and Testament of the late John Keen dated 2nd December, 2015, marked Al and the documents marked A4, AS, A6 and A7 were all forgeries,” he stated.

    Forensic services

    He further stated: “In view of the findings of Martin Papa, of Spectral Forensic Services in his report dated September 13, it is evident that the late Maina Wachira in collusion with the 1st, 4th, and 5th Respondents were from the outset acting as executors and trustees of the Deceased’s Estate on the basis of a forged Will and Testament dated 2, 2015.

    Murgor stated that it was well known within the Keen family, that while Justice Lenaola and the deceased were indeed friends, behind the back of the deceased, Lenaola and Rosemary Sanau started having an extraordinary, and very close relationship, which, when discovered by Keen, caused him great anger, distress and anguish, making it unlikely that he would trust and appoint Lenaola to be executor and trustee of his vast Estate together with Sanau, who was notoriously unfaithful to him, as executors and trustees.

    The purported transfer was lodged for registration in the Lands Office on January 18,2017, and transferred on the same day, 14 days after the purported Will and Testament dated December, 2 2015 was read, 24 days after the death of the Deceased and 13 days before a Petition for Grant of Probate had been filed, let alone confirmed.

    “Therefore, the Transfer amounted to the criminal offence of intermeddling contrary to Section 45 of the Law of Succession Act, which amounts to misconduct on the part of the said Respondents as advocates of the High Court of Kenya, and in the special case of the 1st respondent (Lenaola), to gross misconduct as a judge of the Supreme Court of Kenya.

    According to Murgor, the position of executor/trustee of an estate, is one of absolute trust, confidence and impartiality which would have been required of Lenaola, in order for him to be entrusted to deal with the Deceased’s vast Estate, and large polygamous family in a fair, equitable and accountable manner, and particularly because there were already existing tensions among Keen’s five children, for a variety of reasons.