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Transcript/Script(( PLAYBOOK SLUG: TV - KENYA-FATHERS-CUSTODY
HEADLINE: Kenya Court Rules Fathers Can Get Custody of Minors
TEASER: Children's advocates lauded the decision, saying it advances parental custody based on merit
PUBLISHED: 04/26/2022 at 3:52 pm
BYLINE: Victoria Amunga
DATELINE: NAIROBI
VIDEOGRAPHER: Amos Wangwa
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: DLJ, cobus
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO __
TRT: 2:18
VID APPROVED BY: Reifenrath
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES: reworked version of story submitted but not issued last week))
((INTRO)) A Kenyan court recently ruled that fathers could be granted custody of children below nine years of age instead of the children automatically going to their mothers. Children’s advocacy groups in Kenya welcomed the unprecedented ruling as a step forward for parental custody based on merit. Victoria Amunga reports from Nairobi.
((NARRATOR))
Joel Samson, a father to two minors, recounts the day in December 2020 when his family broke up due to what he says were financial misunderstandings after losing his job.
Samson says the mother of his 6- and 12-year-old daughters sent him out of their house and will not let him in.
((Joel Samson, Father ( English 11 secs))
"My wife was working, she had a job, my job was gone with Covid, so I could not provide for my family."
((NARRATOR))
An April 7th court ruling by Justice Joel Ngugi of the Nakuru law courts said fathers can be granted custody of young children.
In that case, he awarded custody to a man who had been caring for his child for six years while the mother lived abroad.
Samson said the ruling will give fathers like him a chance to raise their children despite divorces.
((Joel Samson, Father) (English 12 secs))
"In most cases in the scenario, like in our country here, most fathers are losing custody of their kids based on gender considerations."
(( NARRATOR ))
VOA reached out by phone to the mother of Samson’s children, Linda Njuki, for comment. Njuki declined to appear on camera but said, quote: "I believe in myself. I can take care of my kids."
She also expressed concern that children might suffer in case a divorced man remarries.
((NARRATOR)) .
Advocacy groups like the Kenya MenEngage Alliance say the Children’s Act is keeping some children under the care of incapable parents.
((Michael Onyango, Kenya MenEngage Alliance Manager) ( English 16secs))
"There are so many men who are capable of doing that role and actually implementing it or doing it in a way that the child will not feel left out or abandoned in a situation where the family has broken up."
((NARRATOR))
FIDA Kenya, told VOA that the best interest of a child is key in custody matters, regardless of gender.
((Brenda Yambo, FIDA Kenya Legal Counsel ((English 14secs)) 2'09-2'23'' “Since time immemorial, mothers have been known to be the best caregivers to their children. This may not be true in all circumstances. That’s why for each and every case it's done on merit. You see, for this particular case, every case is decided on merit. Each case is different.''
((NARRATOR))
Meanwhile, Joel Samson hopes the landmark court ruling will help men like him change their own situation and win at least partial custody of their young children.
((Victoria Amunga for VOA News, Nairobi ))
NewsML Media TopicsSociety
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateApril 26, 2022 17:14 EDT
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
