Inside Fred Ngatia’s Multimillion-Shilling Legal Fees And Property Empire

Fred Ngatia is among Kenya’s most prominent and highly sought-after lawyers, having represented some of the country’s most influential political figures and institutions in high-profile legal battles. His impressive clientele, successful career and multimillion-shilling legal fees have earned him a reputation as one of the wealthiest advocates in the country.

However, unlike some wealthy lawyers who openly display their luxurious lifestyles, Ngatia maintains a relatively low public profile.

One of his most notable clients was the late former Internal Security Minister George Saitoti. Ngatia successfully represented Saitoti in the highly publicised Goldenberg scandal, in which the former minister was accused of involvement in the multibillion-shilling financial scandal. Saitoti was subsequently cleared of wrongdoing.

His legal fees have attracted considerable attention, particularly following his representation of the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) in a dispute involving billionaire businessman Kamlesh Pattni and his company, World Duty Free.

In the case, Ngatia reportedly demanded KSh290 million as part of KSh384 million in legal fees. He defended the amount, explaining that the money was to be shared among the lawyers who had represented the authority.

Ngatia also played a leading role in defending former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s presidential election victory in the 2013 Supreme Court petition filed by the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD). Reports indicated that Uhuru’s legal team received approximately KSh300 million, although the individual payments were not publicly established.

He returned to represent Uhuru in the 2017 presidential election petition, which ended in an unprecedented decision by the Supreme Court to annul the election and order a fresh poll.Beyond his legal practice, Ngatia has also been linked to substantial property investments.

One notable building associated with his name is Upper Hill Chambers in Nairobi. The claim was previously made by blogger Robert Alai, who alleged that Ngatia owned the impressive development.

The building reportedly features three basement levels and 28 floors, making it a notable landmark in Nairobi’s Upper Hill business district.

Through his involvement in landmark cases and reported property interests, Ngatia has established himself as a formidable figure in Kenya’s legal profession.