(NAIROBI, KENYA) – A social media account manager has filed a KES 5.2 million ($40,200, £31,400) counterclaim against the head of Kenya’s urban roads authority, in a dispute that began with the official seeking to recover control of his X account.
Eugene Mokua lodged the counterclaim after Kenya Urban Roads Authority (Kura) Director General Silas Kinoti sued him at the Milimani Commercial Court, demanding the return of login credentials for the X account formerly known as Twitter. Mr Kinoti also wants Mr Mokua barred from accessing or operating the account.
Court documents show the business arrangement was made through WhatsApp exchanges in June 2025. Mr Kinoti says it was an oral agreement under which Mr Mokua would create and publish content, engage followers, monitor interactions and manage the account’s daily activities.
The roads agency chief uses the social media platform to communicate with the public, stakeholders and government bodies about his official work. He argues that Mr Mokua’s authority to run the account ended when he terminated the engagement.
Mr Kinoti says the agreed fee was KES 3 million ($23,200, £18,100) and that he paid the full amount after an initial KES 2 million ($15,400, £12,100) instalment was acknowledged. He also seeks a refund of KES 75,000 ($580, £450) he says was paid for an X premium subscription. He argues that Mr Mokua’s continued access could lead the public to associate statements made through the account with him and his office.
Mr Mokua denies the agreement was terminated. He says the contract was written through WhatsApp messages dated 17 June 2025. He also denies promising to secure a verified checkmark for Mr Kinoti’s X account.
In his defence, Mr Mokua says he kept the account details because payments for his services remained outstanding. His counterclaim lists several items totalling KES 5.2 million ($40,200, £31,400).
The claim includes KES 200,000 ($1,540, £1,210) per month for nine months of account management. It also covers transport and meal expenses, with the defence citing approximately 680 Uber trips to attend to Mr Kinoti. Each visit, Mr Mokua states, involved meals costing about KES 2,000 ($15.40, £12.10).
Further amounts are sought for publication costs, a tender application and payments to influencers engaged to promote the account. Mr Mokua’s lawyers initially demanded KES 8.1 million ($62,500, £48,900) for services rendered. Mr Kinoti’s legal team responded that the agreed sum was KES 3 million ($23,200, £18,100) and that Mr Mokua had acknowledged receiving KES 2 million ($15,400, £12,100).
Mr Mokua’s lawyers later issued a fresh demand for KES 5.2 million ($40,200, £31,400), listing partial payments of KES 2.9 million ($22,400, £17,500) made in different instalments between December 2025 and February 2026. They said the KES 5.2 million ($40,200, £31,400) remained unpaid.
The case is next scheduled for mention on 18 February 2027. Mr Kinoti joined the roads authority in 2009, became acting director general in September 2015 and was appointed to the substantive post in June 2020.
Disputed Amounts in Kinoti v Mokua
| Item | Claimant | Amount (KES) | Amount ($) | Amount (£) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agreed management fee (per Mr Kinoti) | Kinoti | 3,000,000 | 23,200 | 18,100 |
| Initial payment acknowledged | Kinoti | 2,000,000 | 15,400 | 12,100 |
| X premium subscription refund sought | Kinoti | 75,000 | 580 | 450 |
| Counterclaim total | Mokua | 5,200,000 | 40,200 | 31,400 |
| Monthly management fee (9 months) | Mokua | 1,800,000 | 13,900 | 10,900 |
| Partial payments made (Dec 2025–Feb 2026) | Mokua | 2,900,000 | 22,400 | 17,500 |
| Initial lawyer demand | Mokua | 8,100,000 | 62,500 | 48,900 |
| Uber trips (approx. 680) | Mokua | – | – | – |
| Meal cost per visit | Mokua | 2,000 | 15.40 | 12.10 |