The High Court in Nairobi has issued a landmark ruling clarifying child maintenance responsibilities after separation, stating that parental duty must be shared fairly based on each parent's means, rather than placing the burden solely on one parent.

• The ruling came in the case JNM v LGM (Appeal E107 of 2024) [2025], delivered by Justice Helene Namisi on December 5, 2025.
• The court overturned a lower court's decision that ordered a father, earning a similar salary to the mother, to pay nearly all child-related costs for their two children.
• Justice Namisi ruled that "Where both parents have the means, contribution must be fair, realistic, and focused on the child, not on punishing one parent."
• The father will cover school fees and related costs, while the mother will be responsible for daily school transport and clothing while the children are in her custody.
• Both parents retain joint legal custody and must share medical insurance and holiday time equally.