Sonko Speaks After Confronting Man Who Allegedly Assaulted His Daughter

Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko released a statement on Monday, November 17 after he was captured in a viral clip confronting a man alleged to have attacked his daughter in a recent episode of domestic violence.

A video and recorded phone conversation shared online showed his daughter explaining that her husband physically assaulted her after she asked about preparing breakfast for their children.

In the call, she pleaded with her mother to pick her up, recounting that her husband slapped her twice instead of answering her question.

This ordeal prompted Sonko to rush to Kitengela, Kajiado County to confront his son-in-law directly, as depicted in the video seen by Viral Tea, angrily condemning his behavior and prioritizing his daughter’s safety by removing her from the home, while directing the husband to return later accompanied by his parents.

A screengrab collage of former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko confronting his son-in-law on Saturday, October 16, 2025. /VIRAL TEA KE

"The guy slapped my daughter. Why would you beat your wife? Why not come to us as parents if you are having issues?" he posed as the son-in-law remained mum when grilled over his reasons for hitting the politician's daughter.

He warned him firmly: "If you ever touch my daughter again, I will deal with you. I'm leaving with my daughter. If you think about your wife, or if you think you deserve a wife, you will come home with your parents."

During the confrontation, Sonko disclosed that he had been financially supporting the entire family—covering their rent, paying the children’s school fees, buying groceries, and even gifting the couple a Range Rover.

He pointed out that if his own daughter could face assault in her home, then countless other women, regardless of their social standing, were also at risk of domestic violence.

Sonko urged women in abusive relationships to speak out and seek help, noting that some hospitals in the city, including low-income facilities, provide services for survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.

Throughout the incident, he held back his team from physically confronting his son-in-law, emphasizing that violence would not resolve the situation.

"Today, we received a distress call from our daughter that shook us to the core; her voice trembling, her spirit broken. As a parent, nothing prepares you for the moment your child reaches out in fear, in pain, or in desperation. I acted immediately, because no mother or father can sit still when their child is hurting," Sonko said.

Reflecting on the wider issue, Sonko said, "It made me ask myself, if my own daughter can face harassment in her own home, what about the countless young women and men in Kenya who suffer silently, with no one to defend them."

He stressed that while marriage has its challenges, violence is never acceptable: "Marriage is never a smooth road. It is built through storms and sunshine, through patience, forgiveness, and understanding. But when challenges turn into violence, when love turns into fear, then the very foundation of that marriage is shaken. No one deserves that."

Using his experience as a warning, Sonko urged young couples to resolve conflicts peacefully: "My heartfelt plea to young couples is this: please, choose peace. Choose dialogue before anger. Choose to pause, breathe, and talk rather than hurt the person you vowed to protect. Violence doesn't solve anything; it only destroys the heart, the home, and the future."

He emphasized the need for homes where love flourishes and disputes are settled through conversation, not harm.