Nyeri majority leader sued for child upkeep

Nyeri Majority leader Duncan Gatwanja who has been sued for child support by Virginia Wambui for their One and a half year old kid at the Nyeri Law courts. PHOTO: MOSE SAMMY/STANDARD

A woman has gone to court seeking Sh52,000 as monthly child upkeep from Nyeri County Assembly Majority Leader Duncan Gituanja.

In a suit filed before Nyeri Senior Magistrate Joan Wabilyanga, Virginia Wambui, 37, has sued Mr Gituanja over claims of child neglect.

Ms Wambui, who works for a local insurance firm, said efforts to have Gitunja pay child maintenance for their one and a half-year-old daughter has been futile.

“He has neglected his parental responsibility and refused to contribute to the welfare of the child,” the plaintiff said in her affidavit.

This, she said, was despite the defendant earning more than Sh500,000 plus hefty sitting allowances.

Wambui is now seeking to have Gituanja compelled by the court to fulfill his parental responsibility by making regular monthly contributions for the minor’s upkeep.

She further wants him to make adequate contributions towards any additional medical expenses and all necessities, when and where they arise.

Denied Allegations

 “Despite demands and notice of intention to sue, he has failed to make good his promise yet I only earn Sh17,000 a month,” Wambui added.

She prayed for the custody of the minor and for the defendant to take up his responsibilities.

But in his defence, Gituanja through Sichangi and Co Advocates denied all the allegations levelled against him, including promising to marry Wambui as she had claimed. He acknowledged that he was the child’s biological father and averred that parental responsibility is shared by two parents on 50/50 basis.

Gituanja submitted that his monthly contribution of Sh5,000 was reasonable to maintain the minor since her mother was in gainful employment.

He noted the amount being demanded by the plaintiff, who had earlier asked for Sh32,000, was calculated to harass and extort money and not in the interests of the minor. Wambui had told the court that she met the defendant in 2013. The court directed both parties to file their final submissions before February 29.