Merely a day after Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko launched a hotline on his official Facebook page for women to report deadbeat fathers, the lines are now buzzing with calls.
Nairobi County's Director of Communication Elkana Jacob told K24 Digital that the governor has received 2,464 messages since he launched the hotline.
Eight leaders, among them sitting governors, MPs and ward representatives, are among those reported to the governor for absconding their fatherly duties.
"We have received complaints from as far as Kiunga in Lamu, the United Kingdom. Some of the women complained that the leaders have failed to pay school fees or beat them up," said Mr Jacob.
But the governor cannot reveal the names of the "deadbeat" leaders for legal reasons.
Mr Sonko is also in a dilemma with what to do with the information.
For authorities to act on deadbeat and violent fathers, the victims must report the incidents to the police or seek the court's intervention for child support.
“We are receiving massive feedback in form of calls and messages. So far, the most mentioned leaders are Members of Parliament, followed by senators and governors,” Jacob said.
But the daring governor may publish the names in the coming days.
Apart from women, Mr Jacob has also revealed that they have been receiving complaints from men who are reporting women leaders for "using and dumping" them.
“Some are businessmen saying female leaders seduce, use and dump them as soon as they achieve their goal.”
Mr. Sonko on Sunday provided two hotline numbers (0722886600/0739555555) for women to call if their ‘deadbeat” lawmakers have evaded responsibility.
Governor Sonko’s move came just two days after he declared declared publicly that the late Kibra MP Ken Okoth had a child with a Nairobi MCA during the memorial service for the late Kibra MP on Thursday, July 1.
