Newly appointed Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture Mithika Linturi can now breathe with a of relief, as he was acquitted by a court of law.
In a matrimonial case involving him and the newly elected Member of Parliament for Aldai constituency, Maryanne Kittany, the court has ruled that the doctrine of common law marriage no longer applies in Kenya, adding that the Marriage Act of 2014 requires parties to register a customary marriage.
Mithika Linturi has had a tough time fighting court changes that were levelled against him with Maryann. However, this news comes as a double blessing for the former Meru senator – who has just been nominated to Cabinet Secretary position by President William Ruto.
Mithika Linturi contested Meru county gubernatorial seat, but he was shown the door by Kawira Mwangaza, who the former women Rep for the county. The court further noted that it cannot recognise a customary marriage that is not registered.
“The customary law union allied to Maryanne Kitanny would not suffice as a marriage under the laws of Kenya,” the court ruled. The court further ruled that Linturi was in another monogamous marriage with Mrs Mary Kaimenyi and therefore could not hold any other form of marriage including polygamy.
