By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter
Kenya, 30 December 2025 - A woman’s effort to secure larger child support payments from her former partner collapsed in Nairobi after a private forensic examination exposed fabricated receipts and inflated claims, a High Court judge has found.
The High Court heard the case as part of a contentious parental responsibility dispute in which both parents, anonymised as VAO (the mother) and EGM (the father), were contesting the amount of financial support the mother sought for their child.
During the trial before Justice Hellene Namisi, evidence showed that the mother submitted a series of fabricated receipts from several local businesses, including Juddie Collection, Winkii & Twins, Totoz Empire and Ramaa Bookshop, supposedly to justify larger maintenance payments from the father.
However, a private forensic examiner hired by the father established that the receipts were fraudulent and had been concocted to exaggerate expenses, undermining her claims in court.
Justice Namisi described the case as emblematic of the “delicate and often acrimonious battles over parental responsibility” that can arise when separated parents disagree over financial contributions for a child’s upbringing.
Though the full judgment is behind a paywall, the judge’s tone reflected frustration with attempts to manipulate the legal process.
Kenyan law emphasises that both parents are responsible for supporting their children, with courts assessing maintenance on a proportionate basis according to each parent’s means and the child’s needs.
A recent High Court ruling stressed that parental responsibility must be shared equitably, but does not imply a strict 50:50 split in every case, rather, contributions are apportioned based on financial capacity and circumstances.
Legal experts say the proper use of accurate financial records and legitimate documentation is critical in maintenance cases, as courts increasingly demand verifiable evidence of actual expenses related to education, health, housing and care.
Child support conflicts are a frequent feature of family law in Kenya, often accompanied by emotional, social and economic tensions between separated partners.
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Community discussions, including social media users weighing in with personal experiences, reflect a wide range of sentiments about fairness, parental responsibility and the role of the legal system.
Some netizens argue that child support orders should be balanced with transparency and accountability, while others feel frustrated by cases perceived as exploitative or one-sided.
One X user summarised the complexity of such disputes, noting:
“Parental responsibility is equal… the numbers must balance and receipts must be provided.”
Another theme in online discussions is the perception that some child support claims may be motivated by financial gain rather than genuine needs, though legal experts caution that such anecdotes should not overshadow the fundamental rights of children to adequate support from both parents.
The outcome of this particular case, where fraudulent documentation damaged the mother’s credibility, serves as a reminder of the importance of evidence-based claims in family courts.
The High Court will soon deliver a detailed judgment on maintenance, including any revised support orders or directions for future conduct by both parties.
Lawyers familiar with child upkeep litigation say that accurate documentation, clear financial records, and expert evidence such as forensic analysis are increasingly crucial in convincing courts to award fair support that genuinely serves the child’s best interests.
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