The High Court has issued pre-trial directions in a dispute between Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) Director General Eng. Silas Kinoti and investigative journalist Eugene Mokua, paving the way for a full hearing of a case involving a Sh5.206 million payment claim and the ownership of Kinoti’s official X (formerly Twitter) account.
During a mention before the court on Wednesday, lawyer Danstan Omari, representing Mokua, opposed an application by Kinoti seeking a further mention date, arguing that the matter was ready for hearing.
Omari urged the court to certify the case ready for trial, saying there was no justification for any further delay.
After considering submissions from both parties, the court issued pre-trial directions and certified the matter ready for hearing.
The judge did not determine the merits of the dispute, stating that all contested issues would be resolved after hearing evidence from both sides.
The dispute revolves around Kinoti’s claim that he engaged Mokua in June 2025 to manage his official X account, @MuriraKinoti, under what he describes as an oral agreement.
According to court documents, Mokua was tasked with creating content, engaging followers and managing the account on Kinoti’s behalf.
Kinoti alleges that after the engagement ended, Mokua declined to surrender the account’s login credentials, passwords, recovery information and other administrative access despite repeated requests.
He argues that the continued denial of access has hampered his ability to communicate with the public, stakeholders and government agencies through the platform.
Through Abel B.C. Asuma & Co. Advocates, Kinoti is seeking orders compelling Mokua to hand over all login credentials, passwords, recovery emails and authentication codes associated with the account.
He is also seeking a permanent injunction restraining Mokua from accessing or interfering with the account, a refund of Sh75,000 allegedly paid for an X Premium subscription that was never secured, as well as costs and interest.
Kinoti maintains that the X account, together with its followers, content, goodwill and related digital assets, is his exclusive property and that granting Mokua administrative access did not transfer ownership rights.
Mokua has denied the allegations and filed a defence and counterclaim through Danstan Omari & Associates Advocates.
He disputes Kinoti’s assertion that their agreement was oral, arguing that the terms of engagement were documented through WhatsApp exchanges.
In his counterclaim, Mokua is seeking Sh5.206 million, which he says is outstanding payment for professional communication and digital media services rendered to the KURA Director General.
The claim comprises alleged unpaid monthly management fees, transport and subsistence expenses, payments made to influencers, an outstanding contractual balance and expenses allegedly incurred while pursuing a tender application on Kinoti’s instructions.
According to the defence, demand letters issued in November 2025 and March 2026 seeking payment went unanswered.
Court filings further show that Mokua initially demanded Sh8.117 million before revising the claim to Sh5.206 million after acknowledging receipt of partial payments amounting to Sh2.911 million.
The case file also indicates that the parties previously explored an out-of-court settlement after Kinoti regained administrative access to the X account pursuant to interim court orders.
Mokua also expressed willingness to pursue negotiations on a without-prejudice basis, but the matter has now been cleared for trial, where the court will determine the competing claims over payment and ownership of the social media account.