A plea by Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko targeting Kenyan women who have sired children with politicians, only to be rejected, has gained fame with more than 2,000 people calling up to present their claims.
In less than 24 hours, City Hall said the Governor, through the two hotline numbers he issued yesterday, has received 2,234 messages, as reported by Capital News.
Sonko issued two mobile numbers (0722886600/ 0739555555) where women are to report the cases.
Nairobi County Communications boss Elikana Jacob told Capital News that 8 of the received complaints involve elected leaders, who have allegedly neglected their children born out of the wedlock.
“More people are sending messages since the Governor made the announcement,” Jacob said. While others are of city women reporting cases of domestic violence among other family-related issues, with a hope to get help.
Sonko made the appeal after a section of politicians criticized him for exposing a secret affair between former Kibra MP the late Ken Okoth and nominated MCA Ann Thumbi alias Anita. He took to Instagram to share intimate family details of the Late Ken Okoth after his burial arrangements were presented in court.
In the wordy post, Sonko went on to reveal how he helped Ann Thumbi to ensure her son could maintain a relationship with his father, during his difficult battle with cancer and after his sudden demise. Sonko wrote,” Ken was a diligent leader who did everything to uplift the lives of Kibra constituents and Nairobi in general. However, even as we mourn, we are cognizant of the fact that Ken had a son with one of the nominated Nairobi County Assembly (MCA) members by the name Ann Thumbi alias Anita. The two love birds did not hide the fact that they shared a son. Unfortunately today, Anita was stopped at the Lee Funeral Home as she took their son to pay last respect to his father…My humble appeal is that even as we prepare to bury Ken, let’s not forget his son. He too needs and has a RIGHT to participate in the send-off of his beloved dad. As such, it’s our duty to protect the right of the child. As a leader, I offer my support to the family of the late Ken as they undergo a difficult moment of mourning a husband, a father, a son, a brother. The family should accept Hon. Okoth’s son enjoys legal protection and recognition.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/B0oCmDUhfrz/
The controversial Governor said that most recent position on the matter is aimed at ending the trend of having men who impregnate ladies and abandon them.
“If you are a male leader and you don’t want a child use protection, we must speak for the majority voiceless women in this country including orphans, widows, divorcees, single mothers and all the so-called slay queens,” Sonko wrote, days after making controversial statements at the funeral service of Okoth in Kibra.
The Governor caused a stir when he claimed to be a witness to the late Okoth’s secret affair with Anita. “I knew they had an affair and they had a baby. That lady and her baby must be recognized,” he said during a ceremony attended by among others Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga.
Anita and her five-year-old son had been blocked from taking part in Okoth’s funeral until she moved to court where she obtained orders allowing her to extract DNA samples before his body is interred.
The court order also allowed her son to take part in Okoth’s burial or cremation but to Anita’s shock, Okoth was cremated on Saturday morning in their absence.
The case in which she is seeking to have her son included as one of the beneficiaries in Okoth’s property is still pending in court.
This is not the first time Sonko has gained mixed reactions from the public for his outrageous utterances. In June as earlier reported by The Sauce, differences between the Governor and Woman Rep played out during Madaraka Day celebrations, after Passaris raised concerns over delayed approval of projects by the county government.
Sonko responded by asking her why was calling him all the time “Unanipigia simu mimi si bwana yako,” Sonko said.
