This archive report was first published on 21 August 2019.
Former Deputy President William Ruto's chief of staff, Marianne Kitany, has revealed that her romantic relationship with Meru Senator Mithika Linturi began in 2013 at Ruto's office.
Kitany testified in court that she was sent to persuade Linturi to withdraw an impeachment motion against Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru in 2014, which was linked to the Sh791 million National Youth Service (NYS) scandal.
She recalled that Linturi had successfully defended his Igembe South MP seat on a TNA Party ticket in the March 4, 2013 General Election and frequently visited Ruto's office with complaints.
Kitany said she was tasked by Ruto to deal with Linturi's regular complaints, which marked the beginning of her frequent interactions with the senator.
She testified that between 2013 and May 2014, when Linturi filed the impeachment motion against Waiguru, the two had not gotten into a romantic relationship.
However, in June 2014, when Linturi was given the go-ahead to table the Waiguru impeachment motion in Parliament, Ruto implored upon the MP to drop the plan, prompting Kitany to intervene.
Kitany said that on the day Linturi was to move the Waiguru impeachment motion in Parliament, the two were 'having a good time' in Naivasha.
Linturi, however, denied the allegations, stating that he 'acted out of respect for President Uhuru Kenyatta', whom he claimed had prevailed upon him to drop the motion.
Kitany filed for divorce in December 2018, accusing Linturi of infidelity, bigamy, and mistreatment, and a Nairobi court barred Linturi from throwing her out of their Runda home until their divorce case was heard and determined.
