Kenya Insights

Tag: Child Support

  • Kiambu Senator Thang’wa Cornered; Woman Demands Sh2.6M Child Support

    Kiambu Senator Thang’wa Cornered; Woman Demands Sh2.6M Child Support

    A legal battle has intensified as Kiambu County Senator Paul Thang’wa faces mounting pressure to pay over Sh2.5 million in child maintenance arrears for his 21-year-old daughter.

    The Nairobi High Court, under Justice Helene Namisi, has dismissed Senator Thang’wa’s appeal that sought to stop proceedings in a case where Jackline Kamene is demanding Sh2,575,206 in unpaid child support.

    “I am not persuaded that the appeal will be rendered nugatory by the mere fact that the applicant will be compelled to respond to the notice to show cause,” ruled Justice Namisi, adding that Thang’wa “has not demonstrated how he will suffer substantial loss from defending himself before the trial court.”

    The legal saga began when Kamene filed an application on September 5, 2024, followed by a notice to show cause on September 13, seeking to recover the maintenance arrears.

    According to court documents, Kamene claims she was left to single-handedly shoulder the burden of their daughter’s education throughout high school.

    In a surprising twist, conflicting statements have emerged from the daughter at the center of the dispute.

    In her initial affidavit dated November 22, 2024, she expressed gratitude toward her father, stating that Thang’wa had consistently provided for her maintenance and even enrolled her in a software engineering course at a Nairobi college after high school.

    However, in a second affidavit dated December 5, 2024, she contradicted her earlier statement, claiming that Thang’wa only began providing for her upkeep from February 2024.

    More dramatically, she alleged that her first affidavit had been drafted by her father’s counsel and merely given to her to sign.

    The children’s court had previously dismissed the senator’s preliminary objection on November 14, 2024, directing him to respond to the notice to show cause within 14 days.

    Thang’wa then escalated the matter to the High Court, arguing that being compelled to address the Sh2.5 million claim would cause him “substantial prejudice and loss.”

    With Justice Namisi’s recent ruling, Senator Thang’wa now faces the prospect of having to defend himself against the maintenance claims in the children’s court, as the legal process continues to unfold.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

  • Case Update: Woman Seeks Sh200,000 Child Support From Senator Olekina

    Case Update: Woman Seeks Sh200,000 Child Support From Senator Olekina

    A case in which a woman has sued Narok Senator Ledama Olekina, demanding Sh200,000 for child upkeep, is set for hearing this morning.

    Justice Eric Ogola will today hear the various applications made by both the applicant and the senator.

    The woman claims the politician is the biological father of her child, but has ignored his parental responsibilities.

    According to court papers, the woman says she had a brief romantic relationship with Senator Olekina between September 2019 and July 2020.

    She wants the court to order the lawmaker to pay the child’s school fees, related expenses and also include the minor in his medical cover.

    In affidavits filed at the Children’s Court, the woman claims the senator ended their relationship and cut off communication after he was informed of the pregnancy.

    However, in a previous court submission, Ole Kina stated that he does not know the child.

    “I do not know the child. It is not true that I had any relations with the woman,” Ledama stated.

    In a one-page short response, Ledama further asked the court to order a DNA test on the minor.

    He said the woman had indicated that she did not object to a DNA test.

    Elsewhere at the magistrate court, a direction will today be issued in a case in which seven people are accused of violently robbing two women on the same night they allegedly murdered former Kabete MP George Muchai.

    In the High Court, the accused persons are facing a separate charge of killing Muchai, his two bodyguards, Samuel Kailikia and Samuel Matanta, and his driver, Stephen Wambugu, on February 7, 2015, on Kenyatta Avenue, in Nairobi.

    Before a magistrate’s court, they are facing multiple charges of robbery with violence, in which two sisters, Gladys Waithera and Irene Muthoni, are complainants.

    The matter is before Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina.

    Waithera and Muthoni were allegedly carjacked before the former MP was killed.

    Eric Isabwa, Raphael Kimani, Mustapha Kimani, Stephen Astiva, Jane Wanjiru, Margaret Njeri and Simon Wambugu have denied the 10 counts of robbery with violence charges involving six other victims.

    The court found the suspects with a case to answer, and they have since testified in their defence.

    Today, the parties will set a date for final submissions before a judgment is delivered.

  • Communication Consultant Bullies Baby Daddy Online For Child Support Then Says She’ll Spend The Money On Alcohol And Boys

    Communication Consultant Bullies Baby Daddy Online For Child Support Then Says She’ll Spend The Money On Alcohol And Boys

    Betty Njeri Thorne a Nairobi based communication consultant got into a public dirty linen hanging with her child’s father Joseph Wambembe Sitati over unpaid child support dues.

    Njeri who had a substantial online following on X (formerly Twitter) released their private emails revealing the back and forth conversations they’ve been having with Sitati claiming he’s unable to raise the monthly child support owing to his employment status alleging that he’s currently jobless after his employer Mastermind Tobacco has been put under receivership.

    Njeri however dismissed his version of the story insisting that he should adhere to the court ruling and pay the agreed amount of Sh30,000 (approx $224) monthly child support.

    What followed was a wide discussion making it a trending topic on Twitter for hours. She didn’t hold back other private details including bedroom matters. When challenged by a user whether she was in the relationship Sitati over his prowess in bed matters, she replied in negative that Sitati was average and she only entangled with him out of pity.


    She went further to use derogatory language on him in pushing for the funds, “Kama ata baba Abby alilipa child support Sitati ata lipa. Awache ubaluya stories sijui I lost my job (If President Ruto himself paid for child support, Siteti will pay, he should spare me his Abaluhya primitivism).

    After the public shaming, Sitati mobilized for funds and paid Sh150,000 ($1,120) and this also she shared the details.

    Njeri posted that she was going to use the child support money for self nourishment including buying alcohol and on men.

    She still continued with her onslaught using a tribal degrading reference to Sitati, “Thought he was jobless, company under receirvership.. not paid for months.. I tell you wabaluyah and lies… Same WhatsApp group.”

    Court

    Njeri had sued Sitati in 2021 seeking a monthly child upkeep of Sh200,000 ($1,494) but he objected  arguing that he could only raise Sh30,000 for food and upkeep for the child.

    Sitati by then was a non executive director at KenGen and was serving his last year of his three year term. The subject child was born out of wedlock arising out of a mutual short term relationship the court was told.

    He told the court that with the end of his contract, he was in the plans of moving his family from Nairobi to Nanyuki as his income would not sustain the expensive city life.

    Sitati claimed he was living from hand to mouth on advances and borrowed money to cater for all needs not to mention that he has been listed by several facilities at the Credit Reference Bureau.

    “The demand by Njeri is unreasonable. But I am ready and willing to contribute Sh30,000 for food and upkeep for the said child,” he said.

    “I would be willing to contribute the school fees and related expenses at a school of my choice once the child is of school going age,” he added.

    He also said he was willing and ready to enrol the child in his NHIF medical scheme adding that maintenance is not meant to be punitive but reasonable and within his financial capability.

    Sitati told the court that he was married and had two children with his wife at the time. He also stated he had another child out of wedlock in December 2014 and was supporting that child to the tune of Sh50,000.

    The Court was convinced with Sitati and ordered him to be paying the Sh30,000 monthly upkeep. From the public attack, Sitati has been paying the agreed amount and was only late with three months.

    Njeri is on record saying she has other kids with other men whom she never hesitates to boast about as being wealthier.

    One thing, Njeri doesn’t hide her disdain for the local, “One thing I was very deliberate about, was not exposing my kids to Kenyan society. It’s a sick society..even amongst the uber rich. No Kenyan friends.. No Kenyan culture, no Kenyan interactions.” She wrote. On Twitter she’s fondly known as Mzungu given her constant reminders of affiliations with the UK. Her mother was married to a Briton.

    Njeri is not a stranger to controversy, in 2020, she got into a similar Twitter fight with former LSK President Nelson Havi over differences in running a company. The two were speculated to have been in a romantic relationship before things went sore.

    In August 2020, Lawyer Ahmednasir also sued her for defamation over the allegations that the lawyer was involved in money laundering for the Somali pirates.

  • Mombasa Magistrate Claims He’s Too Broke To Afford Child Support

    Mombasa Magistrate Claims He’s Too Broke To Afford Child Support

    A Mombasa magistrate being pursued by a woman for a monthly upkeep of Sh46,000 has told a Nairobi court that he is unable to meet the demands by the Baby Mama.

    Vincent Adet told the court that his pay slip is already overburdened as he is taking care of other children.

    “The demand of Sh46, 000 by the plaintiff (the woman) for a single child when I have other children is not reasonable and practical. I am not able to meet that demand,” said the magistrate.

    In the application filed under certificate of urgency, the woman sought the court to compel the magistrate to ensure enough supply of diapers and formula milk for the minor.

    She claims that the child cannot breastfeed and the only option left is feeding her formula milk.

    “I have tried the regular cow milk but the same seriously affected the child causing stomach bloating hence the doctor recommended strict use of formula,” woman told the court.

    She accuses the man of giving her promises which he never keeps.

    “He is a judicial officer and capable of taking care of his child to a reasonable standard but he has chosen not to abdicate his parental responsibility,” says the woman.

    The woman claims they were involved in intimate relationship in the year 2020 and they were blessed with a child last year.

    She adds that she was forced to bring the matter to court after refusing to co-operate.

  • Dead Beat: Woman Sues Dennis Itumbi For Child Neglect

    Dead Beat: Woman Sues Dennis Itumbi For Child Neglect

    Dennis Itumbi, DP Ruto’s controversial blogger and self-declared State House Digital Director has been sued yet again but this time around by a woman he sired a kid with.

    Itumbi-Dennis

    The mother of the child, through lawyer Enricah Dulo, argues that Mr Itumbi deserted her and the child from birth and has refused to provide any form of maintenance knowing fully well that she is an orphan and had to quit her job before delivering the minor.

    She is also without any form of maternity pay, and despite making several attempts to hold a meeting with him, Mr. Itumbi only sent a friend instead of going in person or sending an advocate.

    “She is seeking Sh50,000 monthly subsistence allowance for the minor to cater for food, clothing, medicine, and house help salary,” lawyer Dulo in court papers.

    Other orders sought are that Mr. Itumbi, who works in the communication department of the Presidency, to provide a copy of his national Identity Card so that his name can be included in the minor’s certificate of birth on top of the said child maintenance demands.

    Mr Itumbi should also be granted reasonable access to the child, but the mother be granted actual and legal custody of the minor. According to the lawyer, Itumbi and the woman dated for almost a year, between January and August last year before the relationship abruptly ended.

    “He ended the relationship sometime in August 2018 when the lady informed him that she was pregnant with his child. She successfully delivered a female child on June 14, this year,” lawyer Dulo in court papers.

    The woman told the court that she has unsuccessfully tried to engage Itumbi to provide maintenance for the minor, but he refused to attend mediation meetings. He is also accused of exhibiting cruelty by trying to convince her to abort the pregnancy when he discovered that she was pregnant.

    “Itumbi has since blocked her and she is unable to engage with him on any meaningful communication in regard to the welfare of the minor,” lawyer Dulo in court papers.

    Mr Itumbi is also in court over the authoring of a letter, which purportedly raised an alarm over the alleged planned assassination of Deputy President William Ruto. The case filed by the minor’s mother will be heard on September 26.