A court sitting in Kajiado has given former Nairobi governor, Mike Mbuvi Sonko, 21 days to respond to a case in which a woman has sued him demanding a monthly upkeep of Ksh448,450.
In a ruling delivered by Ngong Senior Principal Magistrate, Pamela Achieng, the former Nairobi county boss has been directed to file his submissions within the three weeks, upon which the magistrate will determine the next course of action.
The ruling was made following a plea made by the complainant's legal team that stated that the submissions will facilitate it in preparing its defence.
The woman is claiming to have sired a daughter with Sonko 15 years ago and moved to court seeking parental support for food and shopping, rent, security, salon costs, clothing, house help, entertainment, medical insurance, education, transport, and utilities.
She also appealed to the court to compel Sonko to chip in by paying school fees of Ksh86,000 and another Ksh30,450 for other related expenses. On top of that, the woman wants Sonko compelled to clear the outstanding fee balance of Ksh37,000.
The woman's lawyer told the court that her daughter is currently in form two and she has not reported to school since its reopening on April 26.
She accused the former Nairobi governor of neglecting his fatherly responsibilities to provide for the child’s basic necessities such as education, good health, food, clothing, shelter, entertainment and medication.
"Sonko has always been defiant and brazen to accept responsibility and assist me with the maintenance of the minor. He has over the years willfully withdrawn support towards the maintenance of the minor thus denying her what is rightfully hers forcing me to take full responsibility for the minor," she told the court.
She further claimed that she lost her job and life has turned out to be extremely hard for her and her daughter.
Sonko had earlier dismissed the upkeep demands making it clear that he would not fall into the trap, noting that he was willing to personally raise the kid even if she was not his.
Sonko explained that he had adopted many children and he would have no problem adopting the one in question too.
"Which trouble are people speaking about? Just like Jesus said, 'let children come to me', I am kindly asking the lady alleging that she has my 15 years old kid to bring the kid to me.
"My family keeps on growing bigger day in and day out, I feel happy and blessed adopting orphans, street families, and neglected kids in my home. Even if the baby is not mine, just bring her to me and I will take good care of her," he stated.
