A woman quest to have the court grant orders for the maintenance of her two children went awry after the amount sought was reduced on Tuesday.
Ms Agnes Nduku, a former Cabinet minister girlfriend, with whom they have two children feels shortchanged by a court ruling that saw the maintenance fee she had sought from Housing Minister Soita Shitanda reduced drastically.
Ms Nduku was asking for almost Sh200,000 monthly to cater for the twins’ needs. The amount includes a Sh35,000 monthly rent, Sh20,000 in food expenses, Sh4,000 for a house help and a Sh10,000 entertainment allowance.
But the court ordered the Malava MP to pay Sh40, 000 as maintenance fee, which the mother of the children insists she is not going to take.
The minister is, however, expected to cater for school related expenses which vary from books, uniform transport and school fees. The MP will also pay for the medical expenses of the twins.
According to the court orders the maintenance money must be paid by the 5th of every month beginning this month. Mr Shitanda has, however, been given until November 14 to give the money for this month.
The plaintiff is dissatisfied with the outcome of the case saying the new rates had even gone beyond what the father of the two children had already offered to pay.
In his affidavit, the minister had indicated that he was willing to pay Sh50, 000 per child and said he could afford accommodation of not more than Sh20, 000.
The mother of the eight-year-old twins had gone to court to compel the minister to pay for the maintenance of the two minors. According to her, the MP should take full responsibility for the minors and cater for all their expenses.
The minister does not deny paternal responsibilities and confirmed to the court in his defence that he is the father to the kids. He, however, says that the mother of the children was out to exploit him.
“Her demands do not consider shared parental responsibility and merely seeks to exploit my status in the society,” said the minister.
With the Sh40, 000, Ms Nduku is expected to cater for expenses like food clothing and entertainment that she had earlier listed in the maintenance expenses.
According to her, the amount is too small and has made it clear that she will be appealing the decision.
“Their father had already offered to pay Sh50,000 how then did the amount reduce. The money is not enough,” she said.
Source: Daily Nation
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