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Embattled Nyeri Governor, Nderitu Gachagua, could be in another fix following claims by a woman that he dumped her and the son they sired.
Through a sworn affidavit dated August 5, 2015, Susan Wanjiru Ng’ang’a claims that Governor Gachagua, who is facing a second impeachment attempt by the County Assembly over budget stalemate, declined to take his fatherly responsibilities despite her several attempts to reach him for the last three years.
Wanjiru alleges that Gachagua abandoned her and the child on January 28, 2013 without any justifiable cause or reason, and that she has been struggling on her own to provide for the child.
The affidavit filed by Akedi & Olalo Advocates reads in part that, “..the defendant has neglected his parental responsibilities over the child and has failed and/or neglected to provide school fees, school related costs... for the child”.
Wanjiru adds that the governor is a man of means, but that she has been forced to shoulder the burden single-handedly. She wants that “pending the hearing and determination of this application, the respondent be ordered to pay for school fees and school related costs for the child.”
She further wants Gachagua to be compelled to cater for the upkeep and monthly maintenance fee for his son from January 2013.
“Through my advocate on record at the time, a demand letter was sent to the defendant on July 2016, however the same did not elicit any response,” claims Wanjiru.
Contacted for comment, one of the lawyers privy to the case said that, “It is a sensitive matter and I’m not allowed to share anything even hearing dates before talking to my client.”
Gachagua was the MP for Mathira Constituency before he became Nyeri Governor. The holder of bachelor’s degree in building economics from the University of Nairobi, vied for the 2013 gubernatorial elections, winning as Governor of Nyeri County with Wamathai Samuel Githaiga as his running mate. He was elected on a Grand National Union (GNU) party ticket.
Governor Gachagua has been ailing since late last year and has severally been admitted to a London hospital, forcing his deputy to step in while he is away.
