Chaudhri & Associates v Registered Trustees of Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al – Nahyan (Miscellaneous Civil Application E202 of 2022) [2026] KEELC 4812 (KLR)

Rule 11 obliges an aggrieved party to file a notice of objection within 14 days specifying the items objected to; the notice must not be omnibus. The court perused the record and found no notice, not even a defective one, was ever filed. Relying on Machira & Chadha, the court held the application fails on this ground alone.

Although the Taxing Master erred in finding the Bill unchallenged when the Client had filed submissions, the Client showed no prejudice. VAT is a statutory charge on legal fees; the 50% increment is the prescribed mechanism for Advocate-Client costs under Schedule VI; and costs of taxation follow the event under Section 27 of the Civil Procedure Act. Further, the items submitted on were unknown to the Court.

Section 51(2) makes the certificate final as to quantum unless set aside or altered. The Client's reference having been dismissed, and relying on Lubulellah and the Supreme Court's Kenya Airports Authority decision, the court entered judgment for the certified sum, with interest under Section 26 of the Civil Procedure Act at 14% per annum from one month after issuance of the certificate.

Following Otieno, Ragot & Company Advocates v Kenya Airports Authority, where interest is included as a charge in the Bill of Costs, Rule 7 does not apply and the court falls back on its discretion under Section 26 of the Civil Procedure Act. The Advocate had included a claim for interest in the Bill, so the court awarded 14% per annum from one month after the Certificate of Costs was issued.