‘Journalists’ milling around court to beg for money during divorce row: Linturi’s lawyer

Mithika Linturi’s lawyer, Prof. George Wajackoyah, now wants journalists covering the divorce case pitting his client and his estranged partner, Marianne Kitany, to produce accreditation cards by the Media Council of Kenya before being allowed entry into the courtrooms.

Wajackoyah accuses some “newsmen” of quackery. He suggested that they mill in court at the invitation of the complainant, Kitany, who, according to him, easily parts with money to have her version of story widely covered.

Wajackoyah further accused even the legitimate journalists of negatively covering his client in the ongoing divorce row.

“Those who come here with the aim of soliciting funds, are not media professionals,” Wajackoyah said at the Milimani Law Courts on Thursday, September 26.

The defendant’s lawyer further said that he finds it strange that some people “purporting to be journalists” drive in with Kitany and her legal team, and once the court session ends, they drive away with them.

Kitany’s lawyer, Danstan Omari, however, dismissed Wajackoyah’s allegations, saying the “media has no obligation to be friendly to his client”.

“The media has no obligation to say hi to Linturi or my client. Let us leave the media out of this matter, let us not call them gutter,” said Omari.

Wajackoyah responded, saying he only wants the case covered by people who subscribe to professional guidelines such as accuracy, balance and objectivity.

“Media accreditation and issues of national security; including anti-terrorism measures, even in the courtroom, [should not be taken lightly]. I am a lawyer, and if you ask for my accreditation card from the Law Society of Kenya, I will readily show it to you. Let the media also do the same,” said Wajackoyah.

Milimani Chief Magistrate Peter Gesora said he will make a decision on the issues raised by Wajackoyah on October 15.

The debate on journalists’ coverage of the Kitany-Linturi divorce battle, stemmed from accusations by the defense side that Kitany has been receiving favourable media coverage, whereas Linturi has been getting unfriendly and inaccurate coverage.