Deputy President William Ruto yesterday came out to shut down reports that he has not been taking care of a child he sired out of wedlock.
Through lawyer Gitobu Imanyara, Prisca Chemutai Bett, accuses Ruto of failing to provide basic needs for his child. A 20 page document filed by the lawyers reads that the DP last gave the woman Sh35, 000 in 2013.
“After the defendant assumed the office of the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya, he discontinued offering any form of monetary support to us, leaving us in abject poverty,” the woman claims.
But the response from Ruto was swift and straight.
On Twitter, the DP acknowledged that he is indeed the father of the child, and has been providing for her needs, including enrolling her in a private boarding school.
“My 11 year old child Abby is well catered for including her education in private boarding school. Politicians& Busybodies should keep off.” he tweeted.
Ruto added that he went out of his way to get the lady a good job, and has been sending Sh40,000 monthly upkeep. He then accused her of going ahead to get 3 more kids.
The Deputy President read this as blackmail to have him take care of other men’s children. He stated categorically that it won’t work.
According to court documents, Ruto pursued the then university student in 2005. He was then the Eldoret North MP.
“The defendant pursued me with various propositions for a romantic relationship, and owing to my gullibility as a young and naive person, I acquiesced to the advances,” she said.
Their relationship resulted in the birth of a girl on March 6, 2006.
“I, together with the daughter I bore with the defendant, was forced to move out of the house the defendant was paying for and move into a smaller house in a cheaper estate,” Prisca adds.
“I could no longer afford to pay the salary and upkeep, as well as the house help. It was at this point that I was compelled, out of necessity, to seek the counsel of my advocates, and whom I instructed to issue a demand and notice of intention to sue for child maintenance.”
As Ruto maintains that he sends Sh40,000 monthly, the woman claims it was a one time thing.
She is now seeking Sh149, 000 monthly to cater for the child’s monthly needs.
