It's a dark day for irresponsible fathers, popularly known as 'deadbeat' dads after a court ruling delivered on Thursday by Lady Justice Mumbi Ngugi put them on the spot.
'Deadbeat fathers' are those who dodge their parental responsibilities, from the ruling they will no longer have an excuse to run away from the parental role.
This is a big blow also to the rich men who enter into unceremonious relations and prey on women bold that the law allows them to hide children born in those clandestine associations.
On the flipside, the new ruling gives a lifeline to responsible fathers who have been unfairly prevented from claiming their children.
The courts’ decision also implies that a father automatically gains entry into a child’s life once born and the child achieves an identity once and for all. Ngugi said that every child has a right to have the name of his or her father on the birth certificate.
“Every child has a right to have its father’s name entered into its birth certificate. Hence, children born out of wedlock should enjoy the same privilege,” said Ngugi.
She further ruled and ordered the Registrar of Births and Deaths to ensure that the entry of names is done in the next 45 days.