A Kabianga University student has sued Kericho Governor Erick Mutai, accusing him of failing to provide for their one-year-old child and asking the court to order him to pay Sh200,000 every month in child support.
The fourth-year student, Maureen Chepkirui, claims in court documents that Mutai fathered the child after the two were romantically involved. She says she has been left to shoulder the responsibility of raising the child alone despite the governor’s alleged parental responsibilities.
Chepkirui wants the court to compel Mutai to provide Sh200,000 monthly towards the child’s upkeep, saying the money would cater for the minor’s needs.
The case also centres on the child’s birth registration and identity. Chepkirui claims Mutai has failed to facilitate the registration of the child’s birth and has allegedly declined to provide his national identity card, which she says is required for the process.
She is seeking the court’s intervention to have the child’s birth certificate reflect the alleged relationship with the governor and to compel Mutai to take responsibility for the minor. The case comes as the Kericho County boss faces an increasingly demanding political environment ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Mutai, who won the governorship in 2022 after securing the United Democratic Alliance ticket, has faced major political battles during his first term. The governor survived two impeachment attempts after members of the Kericho County Assembly voted to remove him from office. On both occasions, the Senate declined to uphold the impeachment, allowing him to remain governor.
His political relationship with Deputy Governor Fred Kirui has also since collapsed. Earlier this year, Mutai publicly told Kirui to look for another political partner ahead of the 2027 elections, effectively bringing their political partnership to an end. Mutai has since settled on his County Executive Committee Member for Finance, Jackson Rop, as his preferred running mate.
The child-support case now places another legal matter before the governor as he continues to navigate the political battles surrounding his leadership of Kericho County.
