Sonko Condemns Domestic Violence After Rescuing Daughter From Abusive Marriage

By Andrew Mbuva 

Former Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko has spoken out strongly against domestic violence after rushing to rescue his daughter from what he described as a deeply distressing and abusive situation.

In a heartfelt statement, Sonko said the family received a harrowing call that left them shaken, as their daughter reached out in fear and desperation. “Her voice was trembling, her spirit broken. As a parent, nothing prepares you for the moment your child reaches out in pain,” he said.

Sonko said he acted immediately, adding that no parent can remain still when their child is suffering. The incident, he noted, opened his eyes to the silent struggles many young people in Kenya endure behind closed doors.

“If my own daughter can face harassment in her own home, what about the countless young women and men who suffer silently, with no one to defend them?” he questioned.

He reflected on marriage as a journey that requires patience, forgiveness, and understanding, but warned that once challenges escalate into violence, the very foundation of a union is destroyed. “When love turns into fear, no one deserves that,” he said.

Sonko appealed to young couples to embrace peace and communication, urging them to pause, breathe, and talk rather than resort to harm. He stressed that violence solves nothing—it only destroys families and futures.

“Let us create homes where love is safe, where voices are gentle, and where differences can be resolved without breaking each other,” he said, adding that no parent should ever receive the kind of call his family received, and no partner should ever suffer in silence.

Drawing from his own 28-year marriage, Sonko emphasized the value of dialogue over confrontation. “Every time we differ, we prefer dialogue over violence. So vijana, tuache kupiga warembo wetu,” he urged.

The former governor’s remarks have reignited public conversation on domestic abuse, with many calling for stronger community support systems and greater accountability for perpetrators.