United Nations staff denies being married to two men

By MAUREEN ODIWUOR

KENYA: A woman who is alleged to have wedded a Kenyan businessman before annulling her previous marriage to a German has denied the claims.

Jacqueline Lawina denied that she got married to Cyril Gwendo who is the petitioner, while still the wife of Jan Op Gen Oorth.

In a matrimonial amended petition dated August 8 filed by Gwendo through Olando Udoto and Okelo and Company advocates, he seeks that the High Court annuls the marriage solemnised between him and Lawina in June 2, 2010.

According to Gwendo, Lawina is an Operations Officer at the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.

Seeking annulment

Gwendo had indicated in his petition seeking annulment of their marriage that Lawina wedded her German husband on May 2006 at Copenhagen Municipality.

The petitioner claimed that he came to know of the existence of the marriage in March 2009 prior to the solemnisation of their marriage and sought clarification on the same.

He claimed Lawina advised him that she had dissolved her previous marriage.

In a response to the petition, Lawina denied that her marriage with Gen Oorth was solemnised through a wedding but that it happened at a Civil Registry office in Copenhagen.

She denied getting married to Gwendo while married to the German, saying that the Nairobi businessman was a major player in her divorce process.