Woman sues for Sh200,000 monthly from Senator Ledama ole Kina

Narok Senator Ledama ole Kina.

Narok Senator Ledama ole Kina.

Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group

A woman has sought court orders compelling Narok Senator Ledama ole Kina to pay child support for their one-year-old son.

In the child upkeep suit, Ms Esther Wanjiru wants court to order the politician to pay an interim maintenance of Sh200,000 per month, being support for the minor pending full hearing of the case. She also wants Mr Ole Kina to pay for the minor’s school fees, related expenses and to include him in his medical cover.

She alleges that the politician is the biological father of the child but has neglected responsibilities, care and provision for the minor. Ms Wanjiru says she had a brief romantic relationship with the lawmaker from September 2019 to July 2020.

He ended the relationship and cut ties with the woman when he learnt that he had made her pregnant, the woman claims in papers filed at the Children’s Court in Nairobi.

“When I conceived and realised I was pregnant, I immediately informed the Respondent (Ole Kina) that he was going to be a father. But to my dismay and utter shock, he cut off communication with me,” she alleges.

She adds that she has tried reaching out to the politician to no avail.

The child was born on October 22, 2020, and Ms Wanjiru says she has been raising him alone.

She says she has since lost her employment and cannot sustain the minor’s basic needs alone.

During the prenatal period, she says, she did not get any assistance, financial or emotional, from the politician.

“In the best interest of the minor, the plaintiff (Wanjiru) has tried reaching out to the defendant (Ole Kina) through all available means to no avail. He is an elected member of the Kenyan Parliament, the senator of Narok County and a prolific businessman with excessive means to provide for the minor,” she says.

In her affidavit, she has attached a demand letter her advocate, Ojijoh Kepher, sent to Mr Ole Kina, urging him to support the minor. In the letter dated September 3, 2021, she demanded monthly upkeep of Sh350,000.

The amount comprises Sh17,000 for house help, food Sh50,000, medical Sh40,000, Shelter Sh80,000, clothing Sh50,000 and entertainment Sh43,000.

Other items include utility bills Sh50,000 and service charge of Sh20,000. The woman has attached medical bills and receipts in the court papers.

“Following Ole Kina’s persistent behaviour of absconding his duties as a father, I instructed my advocates to write a demand for child support and maintenance from him, but the same has been treated with outright contempt, thus making me verily believe that he has deliberately abdicated his parental responsibilities,” says Ms Wanjiru.

 “Ole Kina has a constitutional and legal obligation to be responsible as a biological parent of the minor for the care and provision of the minor.”

The case has been certified as urgent and will be heard on January 11, 2022.