A father has filed a suit against his own son, lamenting that he was languishing in poverty after sacrificing his years and investment on the man, only to be deserted in the village.
In the papers filed at Kitale High Court, Gideon Kisira Cherowo told the court that his son was absorbed by the city life and left the old man to fend for himself.
A correspondent who spoke to Kenyans.co.ke from Kitale detailed that the 73-year-old man wants the court to direct his son to give him 20 per cent of his monthly salary.
"Mzee Cherowo argued that he deserves to be well catered for after toiling to provide a better life for him," the court correspondent stated.
Mzee Cherowo complained that he sold his parcels of land to educate the son up to tertiary level. He also gave him his share of the inheritance, a quarter an acre of land and blessed the son prior to his marriage.
The court papers added that the old man further paid dowry for his son which comprised an undisclosed amount of money, four cows and other items. The aggrieved 73-year-old thus wants upkeep as compensation for his sacrifice.
He outlined that the son was employed by a government agency in Nairobi and solely enjoyed his salary, allowances, bonuses, insurance and was also in line for pension upon retirement.
“I used all the resources I had to enable him to be in a good position so that he can help our family. I request 20 per cent of his salary to be given to me as the father,” Mzee Cherowo pleaded with the court.
The father of four added that the family was dependant on the son who allegedly cut connections with them after landing the city job. Efforts to solve the matter amicably backfired according to Mzee Cherowo, as the son was unreachable.
“I have tried several times, for years, to seek assistance from my son, but all in vain. He is the only one, out of my four children who is gainfully employed,” Mzee Cherowo told the court.
The old man filed the case by himself and did not have an attorney to represent him in court. He explained that the family cannot afford the service of a lawyer.
However, he provided a witness in court, the son’s young brother. The sibling told the court that his brother deserted them years ago.
He asked the court to listen to his father’s plea as they had spent all their fortune on educating the brother.
The family lives in a mud-house in Birunda village, Saboti Sub County in Trans Nzoia County.
The son had not yet responded to the lawsuit by the time of press. The court was also yet to set a date for the hearing of the case.
