Kenyan politicians and controversies are inseparable. Over the years, the news has been awash with the number of leaders getting sued for child support. While some have come out to claim responsibility for the children, others have denied ever being involved with the plaintiffs.
In this article, WoK complies a list of Kenyan politicians who have been sued for child support and the status of their claims.
Senator Ledama Ole Kina
In December 2021, a woman moved to court seeking to have Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina compelled to pay monthly upkeep of Ksh200,000 for their one-year-old son.
Esther Wanjiru sought to have Ledama compelled to pay the Ksh200,000 as interim monthly child support fees pending the determination of the case. According to a report by Nation on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, she also sought to have the senator pay for the child’s school fees, and related expenses and to include him in his medical cover.
Wanjiru told the court that Senator Ledama is the child’s biological father but has since neglected his paternal duties. She claimed that she was involved with the Narok County legislator romantically between September 2019 to July 2020. The senator allegedly cut ties with her after realising that he had impregnated her.
Through lawyer Kethi Kilonzo, Ledama has told the court that he does not know the woman, leave alone ever meeting her. He demanded a DNA test between him and the minor as requested by the woman to settle the matter once and for all.
Mike Sonko
Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko was on May 23, 2022, sued by a woman demanding monthly upkeep of Ksh448,450. The woman, who claims to have sired the child with Sonko, filed the case against the aspiring Mombasa governor at the Ngong Magistrate Court through lawyer Dan Okemwa.
The woman, who sought anonymity, claims that she first met Sonko in 1999 and they began having romantic relationships. She says that their child was born on April 17, 2007.
She told the court that she met Sonko in Maanzoni in 2018 where the former governor gave her Ksh100,000.
She added that she is open to a DNA test to confirm the legitimacy of her claims.
In a series of Tweets, Sonko mocked the suit and asked the woman to bring the child to him, alluding to the biblical story of Jesus famously saying, “Let the children come to me.”
“Just like Jesus said “let children come to me…” Am kindly asking the lady alleging that she has my 15 years old kid to bring the kid to me,” he tweeted.
Sonko claimed that the woman in question had lost custody of her two other children, who are now living with their father. He accused her of blackmail in one of the tweets, claiming she uses her children to blackmail their fathers for party money.
He, however, promised to give the child ‘the best life has to offer’ but said it was unlikely that he would meet the Ksh448k-a-month child support.
Deputy President William Ruto
The deputy president was sued by one Priscah Chemutai Bett for allegedly neglecting their child. Chemutai narrated that the two met in 2005 when she was still a student at Moi University in Eldoret.
She was introduced to the then Eldoret North MP by a friend and later gave in to DP Ruto’s advances since she was gullible, young, and naive.
Their little girl is called Abby. The second in command actually claimed responsibility and said he was taking care of Abby.
My 11 year old child Abby is well catered for including her education in private boarding school.Politicians& Busybodies should keep off.
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) February 2, 2017
Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka
In November 2021, Irene Naswa Mutaki, who claimed to have had a romantic relationship with the Senate Speaker moved to the High Court in Nairobi demanding Ksh25 million in child support for her unborn baby. She was three months pregnant at the time.
Through her lawyer Danstan Omari, the lady claimed that being the father of the unborn child, Lusaka had declined to take responsibility, to support and provide for her and the unborn baby.
However, the two agreed to settle the matter out of court.
Zachary Okoth Obado
The Migori County Governor made headlines in 2018 following the brutal murder of 26-year-old Rongo University student Sharon Otieno. According to reports, she was murdered after a tussle with the Governor over child support issues.
Even though Obado denied committing the crime, the case is still ongoing. His PA one Mr Oyamo is a co-accused in case.
Governor Jackson Mandago
An ECDE teacher in 2015 sued the Uasin Gishu governor for neglecting their then 14-year-old child.
Caroline Jesang Maina moved to the Eldoret Law Courts, alleging that the governor had refused to honour his promise of giving her a nice residence and providing for the child.
The court heard that Mandago stayed with the complainant from 1998 to 2002 and in 2001 begot the son who was the subject of the matter.
Bernard Shinali
The Ikolomani MP was on the spot after a woman moved to court seeking upkeep of Ksh200,000 monthly for child support.
The woman, Caroline Mutheu Mwakodi, asked the court to compel Shinali to pay the child monthly maintenance for a five-year-old boy.
