Kenya's High Court has ruled that alimony is not an automatic right in divorce cases, requiring it to be specifically pleaded and proven in court. This decision overturns a lower court's order for a husband to pay maintenance to his former wife, amid rising divorce rates in Kenya.

• A September 2025 ruling by Justice Helene Namisi of the High Court stated that maintenance must be explicitly requested and supported by evidence.
• The court overturned a lower court order requiring a husband to pay Ksh50,000 monthly maintenance to his former wife.
• For a spouse to qualify for maintenance, they must prove destitution through an Affidavit of Means, not merely financial strain, aligning with the principle of financial independence.