Former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko has recounted rushing to Kitengela after receiving an urgent call from his daughter, who reported being physically assaulted by her husband.
According to Sonko, the incident began when his daughter called her mother in distress, explaining that her husband had slapped her. In a video shared on his Facebook page, Sonko described immediately driving to Kitengela to intervene.
Footage obtained shows Sonko confronting his son-in-law, expressing anger over the assault, and ensuring his daughter’s safety by taking her out of the home. He instructed the husband to follow later accompanied by his parents.
In a recorded call circulated on social media, the daughter said she had been slapped severely for simply asking her husband what to prepare for their children’s breakfast. Sonko said:
“The guy slapped my daughter. Two slaps. He hit my daughter asking about breakfast. It was not good.”
Sonko highlighted the emotional and physical consequences of domestic violence, emphasizing that it harms both body and soul. He urged society to speak openly about abuse, noting:
“I’m very sure many suffer in silence, but we have to talk about these things. If my own daughter can face harassment in her home, what about countless young women and men in Kenya who suffer quietly?”
He also advised victims of abuse to seek medical and legal assistance, warning of hidden injuries such as internal bleeding and blood clots.
Calling for collective responsibility, Sonko appealed to parents, spouses, and the wider community to prevent domestic violence. He stressed the importance of dialogue and patience in marriage, saying:
“Marriage is never smooth, but when challenges turn into violence, the foundation of that marriage is shaken. No one deserves that.”
Sonko also issued a stern warning to perpetrators, stating that violence would no longer be tolerated:
“This nonsense of hitting women must stop. Whether you are poor or rich, don’t hit your own child. Just talk to her nicely.”
The former governor’s intervention has sparked widespread debate on social media, with many praising his stance against gender-based violence. Njeri Wa Mwangi, a former journalist with Nation Media Group, commented:
“Sonko, I must applaud you for giving domestic violence a voice. DV knows no class; it exists in high-end homes and in the lowest of the lowest. As a mother, I urge you to remove your daughter from this toxic relationship. The violence will never stop; he may even kill her, even if you are paying all the bills.”
Anti-Counterfeit Authority chair charged with Sh5 million bribery claims
