By Wahome Thuku
A senior police officer has been ordered to undergo a DNA test after he denied fathering a six-month-old child who is the subject of a paternity case.
Michael Muriithi Solomon, who is in charge of Serolipi Police Station in Samburu East, has been asked to have the test done at the Kenyatta National Hospital.
A Nairobi Children’s court ordered that the results be filed in court on December 6, when the case resumes.
There was a light moment in court when the officer was ordered to give Sh5,000 to the child’s mother in court for his up-keep and he obliged.
Muriithi denied siring the child while working in Nairobi’s Embakasi area early this year as alleged by his accuser.
But the child’s mother insisted that she cohabitated with the officer for six months before he was transferred to Samburu.
Medical cover
The woman has moved to court seeking to have the officer compelled to give her Sh5,000 for the child’s food every month, Sh8,500 monthly rent, Sh2,000 for clothing every three months and Sh4,500 for a house-help.
She also wants the officer ordered to sponsor the child’s education when he becomes of school-going age and provide him with a medical cover, saying he is able to foot the bills.
She says the officer abandoned her and the child and refused to take up his parental responsibility.
“Since he left our matrimonial home he has persistently neglected his parental responsibility over the minor,” she told the court, adding that the child was suffering both physically and emotionally.
She said she has tried to solve the problem through various forums, including the chief’s office in Eastleigh where the man was summoned, but failed to turn up.
Honoured order
She told the court that she was living with a Good Samaritan who had asked her to leave, but she could not afford rent.
Stay informed. Subscribe to our newsletter
Last month, Muriithi was ordered by the same court to pay Sh5,000 a month for the upkeep of the child pending the hearing and determination of the case.
When the case resumed yesterday, the magistrate asked him if he had honoured the order to which he said no.
The Standard Group Plc is a
multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper
print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The
Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key
influence in matters of national and international interest.
join