This archive report was first published on 30 October 2019.
Kenya's deadbeat dads are in for a rude awakening as a Bill before the Senate seeks to make it harder for them to shirk their responsibilities.
Senator Irungu Kang'ata of Murang'a wants to amend the Children's Act to ensure that fathers who fail to support their children face severe consequences.
One of the proposed amendments is to bar deadbeat fathers from leaving the country for business, effectively grounding them until they clear their child support arrears.
Businesses owned by deadbeat fathers could also have their licenses suspended, forcing them to cease operations until the child support issue is resolved.
Furthermore, the senator wants deadbeat fathers to be barred from obtaining a Certificate of Good Conduct, a requirement for many employers.
Additionally, the proposed law seeks to list deadbeat fathers with the Credit Reference Bureau until they pay their child support, effectively ruining their credit score.
According to Section 23 of the Children's Act, parental responsibility includes duties such as maintaining the child, providing adequate diet, shelter, clothing, medical care, and education, as well as protecting the child from neglect, discrimination, and abuse.
