The Kenyan Judiciary has received a landmark case involving two administrators of a popular Facebook page who have moved to court over a dispute involving publishing rights.
Kilimani Mums Page founder Magdalene Nzisa, a lawyer, has sued her co-admin Purity Nduta after a dramatic fallout.
Ms Nzisa served Ms Nduta with a notice of the suit on Tuesday through an advertisement in the media.
Nzisa has since removed Ms Nduta as a co-admin of the group.
It is not clear the circumstances that led to the fallout between the two administrators but the matter will be heard on Friday at the Milimani Commercial Court.
Another co-admin, Irene Mwende, has also been listed as a defendant in Nzisa’s civil suit.
Nduta and Mwende were also warned that failure to appear in court on Friday will lead to the case being heard without their presence.
“Take note that a Plaint and Notice of Motion Application have been filled in the Chief Magistrate Court at Nairobi, Milimani Commercial Courts in civil suit no. 148 of 2017 in which you are named as the defendants. Service of the summons on you has been ordered by means of this advertisement. A copy of the Summons, the Notice of Motion Application and Plaint may be obtained from the court at the Chief Magistrate's court at Nairobi, Milimani Commercial courts registry,” the advertisement read in part.
Serving defendants through the media is a common legal practice in law, in cases where the lawyers of the Plaintiff are unable to locate the Defendants and serve them.
The Kilimani Mums Facebook group is one of the most popular social media platforms in Kenya and is famed for notorious gossip among middle-class Nairobi women.
As a result of their huge audience, the group provide lucrative advertising opportunities that may be at the heart of this dispute.
