Kenyan woman sues ex-husband for Sh413 million child upkeep

A lady has launched a child support case against a former State House official, alleging that he has failed to fulfill his parenting responsibilities to his three children.

The woman, known in court records as Ms AK, is seeking Sh2.7 million in monthly maintenance.

She wants that the money be paid by the fifth of every month beginning June 5, 2023, in order to provide for the upkeep of their three children.

She claims the funds will be needed to pay for food and monthly shopping, lodging, entertainment, utility bills, nanny, maid, chef, driver, and other staff salaries.

In the alternative, she wants an order instructing the man to deposit Sh413 million as maintenance charges to cover the kids’ monthly and occasional expenses until they reach the age of 18.

The respondent, according to the woman, “is a wealthy man” who “runs various businesses across the economy and is a man of means with a liking for a luxurious lifestyle and a taste for high-quality standard living.”

She goes on to say that they married in 2015, and three years later, in 2018, he abandoned his family and duties.

She adds that the minors have relied on their granddad since then.

“Ms AK and Mr JG were in a romantic relationship for about five years from 2015. At the onset of their relationship, Ms AK had a daughter aged five years at the time from another relationship. Mr JG accepted the child and hence assumed parental responsibility by taking care, bonding and supporting her as one of his children,” says her lawyer Peter Wanyama.

“Although they were living separately at the time, the woman used to pay for the child’s clothes, toys, shoes, transport expenses, holiday trips as well as her general upkeep. The man also started paying (the teen child’s) school fees in 2016,” he adds.

She states that the minors have not had official schooling since 2020 and are currently being home-schooled.

“From 2015 to 2018, Mr JG used to maintain the three minors as their father and he introduced them to a high standard of living while living in Runda.”

“In an unexpected turn of events and for no apparent reason, he began to systematically drop all support for the three minors in 2018,” says Ms AK.

According to the court papers, the man, who holds a dual citizenship of Kenya and England, is the biological father of two children.

He also assumed parental responsibility for the woman’s teenage daughter from a previous relationship, the suit papers indicate.

In seeking child maintenance, she says an amount of Sh600,000 monthly will be used for subsistence (food, toiletries and personal effects and grooming for the three minors).

Another Sh250,000 will go to utility bills, including internet subscription, educational games, Wifi, Microsoft Xbox subscription, water bill, cooking gas, electricity bill, back-up generator fuel and car fuel.

She also wants a monthly provision of Sh900,000 (Sh300,000 per child per month) for entertainment — outings, extra-curricular activities during weekends, library membership, STEM club, horse riding at a reputable riding school as before, tennis and golf clubs and golf course.

For clothing and specialised sports garments, she wants Mr JG to pay Sh300,000 for every child per quarter of the year.

She also demands another Sh60,000 to buy age-appropriate toys and games per child.

She wants Sh1 million per child every year for birthday celebrations, as well as a Sports Utility Vehicle on standby for minors to use as needed.

Source: Nation Africa