Two women who publicly fought for a man they shared got a reprieve after a city magistrate released them with a warning not to commit the offence again.

Maryann Githongo, 3, and 25-year-old Diana Otieno fought on August 25, 2025, in Kariobangi shopping centre, Nairobi, after Githongo met Diana flirting with the man they are both dating.

They were charged with affray contrary to section 92 of the Penal Code, which they admitted before Senior Principal Magistrate Paul Rotich of Makadara law courts.

Affray is the offence of taking part in an unlawful fight in a public place.

Githongo confronted Otieno and the two exchanged unprintable insults before they took to a fight and occasioned bodily injuries to each other before members of the public intervened and stopped the fight. The man they fought for was unbothered by their fight.

Otieno had sustained injuries on the right cheek and left hand, while Githongo suffered an injury on her lower lip.

Githongo lodged a report of assault against Otieno at the Kariobangi police station vide Occurrence Book (OB) 43/25/08/2025, and Otieno lodged a similar case against Githongo the following day vide OB31/26/08/2025 after seeking treatment.

Police investigations established that the two women held a longstanding grudge against each other following accusations of boyfriend snatching and charged them with affray.

Rotich discharged them under section 35 of the Penal Code after they apologised to each other and the court.

The magistrate wittily made them take notice that the man they fought for was not in court with them and told them to make sure he chose one of them.