Woman Who Sued Sonko for Child Support Says She was Offered Sh1 Million to Tarnish His Name

A woman who sued former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko demanding Sh448,450 in monthly child support has withdrawn the case.

In an affidavit, the woman claims she was offered Sh1 million by two ladies who reside in Mombasa to tarnish the name of Sonko, who was eyeing the Mombasa gubernatorial seat in the August 9th general elections. She confirmed that she had already received a payment of Sh240,000 from the two women.

“…. I have since searched my soul on the matter, considered the suit against the defendant and I now wish to unconditionally withdraw both the chamber summons applications and suit both dated 12th May 2022 and further wish to extend my unreserved apologies to the Plaintiff herein and to this Honourable court,” read court papers.

In the case filed at the magistrate court in Ngong, the woman claimed Sonko had neglected his parental responsibility of providing for their 15-year-old daughter and was demanding monthly child upkeep of Sh448,450 to cater for food and shopping, rent, security, clothing, house help, entertainment, medical cover, education, transport, and utilities.

Through lawyer Dan Okemwa, she further wanted the court to compel Sonko to pay school fees of Sh86,000, school fees arrears of Sh37,000, Sh30,450 to cater for school-related expenses and uniforms, and provide medical cover and upkeep for the girl pending the hearing and determination of the case.

The woman claimed their daughter is a Form Two student and was yet to report back to school since it reopened on April 26th. She accused Sonko of refusing to provide for the minor’s basic needs such as education, good health, food, clothing, shelter, entertainment, and medication

“Sonko and I are the biological parents of the minor herein,” read court papers.

Describing Sonko as a person of means, the woman argued that their daughter is entitled to equal treatment and provision like his other children.

“The unequal treatment has affected the minor psychologically as she does not understand why her father is abrasive towards her. Besides, the minor has been bullied and ridiculed in school because of her surname thus causing her emotional trauma and has indicated she wants to be transferred from the school,” she added.

The woman claimed to have met Sonko in 1999 and later entered into an on and off romantic relationship that led to the birth of their daughter on April 17th, 2007.

 “Mr. 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 and forcing me to take full responsibility for the minor,” she said.

“The Respondent is a politician and high-ranking businessman within the republic who lives a high-end life and is not willing to offer the minor the same kind of life while offering a high-end life to his other children, which is a clear indication of discrimination on his part.”

She further submitted that Sonko does not want anything to do with the minor even though he knows he is the biological father. 

“I have always been willing to have a DNA test done to prove the paternity of the minor, a fact which Sonko is well aware of as we have discussed the same on several occasions,” she said in her affidavit.