Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko on Monday confronted his son-in-law following alarming allegations of domestic violence after his daughter made a distress call asking for urgent help. A video shared on Sonko’s social media platforms shows him rushing to his daughter’s home after receiving the call. According to the footage, the dispute reportedly began over a simple question about breakfast but quickly escalated into a physical confrontation.
In an audio recording, Sonko’s daughter is heard telling her mother that she was not okay. She was slapped twice by her husband just because she asked him what was for breakfast. She went ahead to say she didn’t have money, and she had been telling her husband that the kids were hungry.
Sonko Intervenes, Orders Restraint
When Sonko arrived at the home, he confronted his son-in-law but firmly instructed his security team and aides not to use violence, insisting that retaliation would not solve anything. During the exchange, Sonko claimed that he had been financially supporting the household, stating that he pays the rent, school fees, buys groceries, and even provided a Range Rover for the young family. After the confrontation, he left the house with his daughter, warning his son-in-law never to lay a hand on her again.
Sonko: “No Parent Is Prepared for This Pain”
In a strong statement, Sonko expressed deep heartbreak both as a father and as a Kenyan concerned about the wider issue of domestic abuse. He stated that no parent is always prepared for the moment their child reaches out in fear or depression. He acted immediately because no mother or father can sit still when their child is hurting
Today, we received a distress call from our daughter that shook us to the core, her voice trembling, her spirit broken
Mike Sonko Sonko noted that if such abuse could reach his own family, many ordinary Kenyans must be suffering even more quietly without help.
If my own daughter can face harassment in her home, what about the countless young women and men in Kenya who suffer silently, with no one to defend them
Mike Sonko A Call for Peaceful Conflict Resolution in Marriage
Sonko urged couples to deal with conflict through dialogue rather than violence, stating that marriage is built through storms and sunshine, but when challenges turn into violence, when love turns into fear, the very foundation is shaken. He went on to appeal to young families to choose peace and dialogue before anger, as violence destroys the heart, the home, and the future.
Public Reaction: Strong Condemnation of Domestic Abuse
The incident has triggered wide discussion online, with many Kenyans condemning domestic violence and calling for stronger support for survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
Some key public figures, such as artist Octopizzo, stated that Financial dynamics in a relationship never justify violence… Abuse is abuse, no matter who earns more.”
Social commentator Chris Sambu added that the situation with Sonko’s daughter points to a deeply toxic relationship marked by patterns consistent with GBV… under normal circumstances, no one would dare lay a hand on the daughter of a prominent figure like Mike Sonko.
Conclusion
The dramatic confrontation has sparked an emotional national discussion, highlighting the urgent need for awareness, prevention, and survivor protection in cases of domestic and gender-based violence across Kenya. As the story continues to develop, the message remains clear: No form of violence in relationships is acceptable — every person deserves safety, dignity, and peace in their own home.
