- A university student has sued Kericho Governor Dr Eric Mutai, seeking Ksh 200,000 monthly child maintenance support.
- The court has directed the petitioner to grant the governor parental access to the child, pending the main case.
- The Children’s Court has declined to issue interim financial orders, directing that the matter proceed through normal hearing procedures ahead of a September 28 mention.
Kericho Governor Dr Eric Mutai has been sued by a university student who is seeking monthly financial support for their one-year-old daughter.
The petitioner, Maureen Chepkirui, a fourth-year student at the University of Kabianga, wants the court to order the governor to pay Ksh 200,000 every month towards the child’s upkeep.
According to court documents, Ms Chepkirui alleges that the governor has failed to provide financial and parental support to the child since her birth. She claims she has no independent source of income and depends on relatives for her upkeep and that of the child.
The student further alleges that she once took the child to the governor’s official residence in Kericho seeking assistance, but Dr Mutai declined to meet her or see the baby. She claims security officers later prevented her from accessing the residence.
The petitioner has also asked the court to compel the governor to provide his national identification details to facilitate registration of the child’s birth, arguing that the failure to provide these details has affected the child’s access to a birth certificate and legal identity.
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Through her lawyers, Chepkirui is also seeking an order requiring Dr Mutai to obtain comprehensive medical insurance cover for the child. She has further asked the court to award her Ksh 200,000 in exemplary damages, alleging violation of the child’s constitutional rights.
The dispute has also involved a separate application by Dr Mutai, who sought orders allowing him to access and bond with the child. A court subsequently directed Chepkirui to grant the governor parental access to the daughter. The court also directed that the main child-maintenance case be formally served on Dr Mutai before the matter comes up for mention on September 28.
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The Children’s Court had earlier declined to issue interim financial orders sought by Chepkirui under a certificate of urgency, directing that the matter proceed through the normal hearing process.
By Our Reporter
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