This archive report was first published on 28 November 2019.
On March 2016, Andrew Chemutai, an uncle to Marianne Kitany, was informed that Meru Senator Mithika Linturi wanted to marry Kitany. Chemutai, a 63-year-old farmer from the Koitalel Samoei clan of the Nandi community, testified in a divorce case filed by Kitany.
Chemutai told the court that he chaired a meeting to plan Kitany and Linturi's traditional marriage ceremony, which took place at Kitany's home in Nandi in 2016. He said he first met Linturi during the ceremony and that Kitany had a Nandi customary marriage in 2016.
According to Chemutai, Kitany had divorced her first husband before marrying Linturi. He claimed that he was appointed by his brothers to be Kitany's father and that he witnessed the wedding between Kitany and Linturi.
Chemutai also testified that before the visitors arrived, he interrogated Kitany about Linturi, asking her about the period they had been together and whether she would be happy with him. Kitany reportedly told Chemutai that she would be happy and that they would be able to manage their properties.
During cross-examination, Chemutai said that he was the chairman of the marriage planners and that there were no minutes recorded because there was trust. He also testified that Linturi gave them Sh100,000 as dowry and that he was the one who received it.
Chemutai's testimony was part of the divorce case filed by Kitany against Linturi.
