A senior Cabinet Secretary is embroiled in a legal battle at the Milimani Magistrate’s Court after an estranged partner filed a suit demanding more than Ksh.6 million in child-related expenses and future child support.
The woman, identified in court documents as F.M., claims she has single-handedly shouldered the financial burden of raising the child since birth in August 2023. She is seeking Ksh.6,066,680 in refunds for housing, food, medical care, clothing, and travel expenses incurred in both Kenya and Dubai.
F.M. also wants the court to award her sole custody of the child, mandate ongoing maintenance, and approve a name change for the minor. The child’s paternity was confirmed in December 2024 via a DNA test, which F.M. says she paid for at a cost of Ksh.30,920, a sum she now wants refunded.
The Cabinet Secretary, identified only as the Claimed Subject (CS) in the legal filings, has acknowledged paternity but disputes the financial demands. As part of court-ordered negotiations, he submitted a written proposal dated April 3, agreeing to pay for full medical insurance and half of the child’s education costs, but only starting with nursery school.
Significantly, the CS insists that the child must attend public school in Kenya from the age of 12, citing free government education, and refuses to fund private or international school fees for secondary education. He has also offered to contribute one-third of housing costs but only “at Kenyan rates.”
On the issue of the proposed name change, the CS has opposed it, arguing that such a decision should be made by the child upon reaching adulthood. His legal team has also instructed F.M. to communicate strictly through lawyers, citing the sensitive nature of the ongoing court proceedings.
The case has sparked public interest given the senior government official’s profile, though the court has not yet lifted anonymity restrictions on the identities involved. A ruling on interim custody and support arrangements is expected in the coming weeks.
Written By Rodney Mbua
