Ntalami takes on South African TV giant in 'Real Housewives' war

Marini Naturals CEO Michelle Ntalami. [Felix Kavii, Standard]

Ntalami says she was also featured in commercials, advertisements and on various social media pages of M-NET and D&R Studios.

She says after the launch, she inquired from Kaittany whether she was offered any actor's contract, image rights or consent agreement, and if she got any compensation.

Ntalami claims Kaittany admitted she had entered into an agreement and was compensated for all her appearances.

As soon as the show was launched, she claims, Minne started bullying her. Malicious words, according to Ntalami, were used against her on the show, on television and radio shows, and on social media. The defamatory words, she says, were meant to disparage her business, adding that she has suffered damages as a result.

Minne, she states, intended to commercially exploit her social influence and reputation by printing and wearing a T-shirt with the defamatory words.

Ntalami is claiming general damages for commercial exploitation and aggravated damages for the republication of the defamatory words.

Ntalami and Kaittany, on September 25, wrote to the Communications Authority of Kenya seeking to have M-NET content investigated.

"Through the production and broadcasting of, The Real Housewives of Nairobi, a television program that they own and broadcast on Showmax and other affiliate platforms owned by themselves, they have permitted and profited from content that is defamatory, obscene and offensive and have used the same content to promote this program for the purposes of commercial gain and profit," says the letter.