Man sues son for financial support

A 73-year-old Kenya man is suing his son to help support him. Gideon Kisira Cherowo told the Kitale High Court that he has sacrificed a lot for his son, Washington Chepkombe Cherowo, by paying for his education, according to a report on the Nairobi Leo site. ‘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% of his salary to be given to me as the father,’ Cherowo said in the court papers. ‘I have tried several times since 2008 to seek assistance from my son but all in vain,’ he said, adding that of his four sons, Chepkombe is the only one gainfully employed. ‘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 dowry for the defendant’s wife, which cost me four cows and some amount of money ...,’ Cherowo told the court. In a witness statement, Chepkombe's brother, David Masyek Cherowo, said: ‘The defendant deserted his parents after he got a job. It is now 17 years since we saw him. We are leading a very horrible life after the defendant consumed the very thing our father had, so as to take him to school.’ The case could break new grounds as normally upkeep is reserved for children under the age of 18.