Former Chief of Staff at Deputy President William Ruto's office Marianne Kitany on Wednesday insisted that she was legally married to Meru Senator Mithika Linturi.
The couple has already fallen out, forcing Ms Kitany to file a divorce case in which she is targeting multi-billion properties which they allegedly bought together.
While testifying at Milimani law courts, Ms Kitany insisted that the senator visited her home in Nandi in 2016, where a traditional Union was established.
She said Linturi was supposed to give six cows as dowry but paid Sh100,000 in cash.
“For the sake of marriage and out of love, I chewed miraa (khat) for the first time as part of the Meru marriage rituals,” said Kitany.
An elaborate Kalenjin ceremony was attended by members of Linturi’s family, Kitany told Chief Magistrate Peter Gisore.
“Even though he (Linturi) doesn’t like mursik (traditional fermented milk), he took it because it’s a requirement in Kalenjin tradition,” Kitany said, adding that Linturi’s parents did not attend the ceremony and she was informed that in Meru culture, if a man has another wife, the parents cannot attend.
She added that Linturi and his people visited her home in Nandi in 2016 where the ceremony took place.
According to her, Linturi was accompanied by 18 people.
“My mother got help from other villagers to prepare for the function that was held in Nandi on April 16, 2016,” she said.
Kitany added that Mercy Kaimenyi was not married to Linturi at the time they were engaged.
“I had never seen any marriage certificate between Linturi and any other woman and this marriage certificate in court has been brought out of malice,” said Kitany.
Earlier, the former powerful official insisted that they started dating in 2014 at the time the senator was about to table an impeachment motion against Kirinyaga Governor Ann Waiguru.
Senator Linturi, who also sat in the same court with estranged wife, will be given a chance to respond to allegations. In divorce papers, he maintains that Kitany was a stranger in her house.