A woman has moved to court seeking a divorce from her 70-year-old husband, to block him from demanding a share of their daughter's dowry.
Joyce Chemutai is seeking to be legally separated from Joel Lang'at whom she married at the Marriage Registrar on January 31, 1992.
In a petition before Nakuru Senior Resident Magistrate Yvonne Khatambi on Tuesday, Chemutai said they have been separated for 20 years.
She added that they parted ways two years after the marriage when disputes emerged and had three children by then.
She said that the husband deserted her and the children, but would later contact her, demanding a portion of her daughter's dowry.
“The respondent (Langat) deserted the petitioner (Chemutai) without cause or consent. He withdrew from cohabitation with the petitioner and denied her conjugal rights at their matrimonial home in Salgaa, Rongai Sub-County within Nakuru County,” read the petition.
She added that the pain later worsened when the respondent moved on and married another wife, and did not cater for the children.
But in his defense, Lang'at denied the allegations contained in the petition, counter-accusing Chemutai of cutting off communication with him, adding that she also became cruel to him.
"I never deserted my wife. In fact, she is the one who deserted me, cut off all communications and denied me the chance to be with my children and care for them,” he was quoted.
Lady Justice Khatambi gave the respondent 14 days to present his witnesses pending the ruling, with the case set to be heard again on October 30.