Kenyan Man Sues His Son Demanding 20 Percent of His Salary as Upkeep

A 73-year-old Kenyan man has sued his son demanding part of his salary for his maintenance.

Gideon Kisira Cherowo, a resident of Biirunda in Trans Nzoia County, wants the court to compel his son to remit 20 percent of his monthly pay to him as upkeep.

In an application filed at Kitale High Court, the man accuses his son Washington Chepkombe Cherowo, 48, of abandoning him and the family despite funding his education until university level.

“I used all the resources I had to enable the defendant to be in a good position so that he can help us. Right now, my wife and I are in a horrible state yet we have a son who is working. I pray that since the defendant has a good salary, I request for 20 percent of his salary to be given to me as the father,” he says in court filings.

“I sold my land in Cheptais, Bungoma, to educate him from primary to university. I also gave him a quarter of an acre. I even went ahead to pay a dowry for the defendant’s wife, which cost me four cows and some amount of money, whose sum I cannot recall.”

Cherowo says Chepkombe, who works at Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), does not send anything to the family.

The father of four has attached a witness statement from his son David Masyek, who agrees that his brother should surrender part of his salary to their dad.

“The defendant deserted his parents after he got a job. It is now 17 years since we saw him. He does not come or send any assistance to us. We are leading a very horrible life after the defendant consumed the very thing our father had, so as to take him to school,” Masyek says.

Among his four children, Cherowo says Chepkombe is the only one who is gainfully employed.