Bar maid claims she is Machakos deputy governor's daughter, willing to undergo DNA

Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi Kilonzo has suddenly found himself in the public eye after a young woman stepped forward claiming to be his daughter.

While Mwangangi has remained coy on the matter, 26-year-old Sharon Nduku insists she is the Deputy Governor’s daughter and says she is willing to undergo DNA testing to prove her claim.

Nduku alleges she was born out of a brief relationship in Nairobi’s Huruma, between Mwangangi and her mother, Caroline Muendi, a former vegetable vendor, who was pregnant when, she claims, Mwangangi “abandoned” her.

Now, she says, all she wants is the recognition and attention of her ‘father’. As the daughter of a prominent and wealthy politician, Nduku argues, she should not be forced to struggle just to pay rent and put food on the table.

“I was born in 1999 following an affair between my mother and DG Mwangangi. According to my mother and other family members, who have since explained what happened, Mwangangi was working in Nairobi at the time, while my mother had been employed at a kibanda,” Nduku told The Nairobian.

Although her mother later married, Nduku was raised by her grandparents, both of whom have since passed away.

“I was left in the care of my grandmother, Ann Kailu, who died during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. She took me through primary and secondary school, but college became difficult as she developed complications. We sought my father’s intervention—he was serving as Yatta Constituency MP—but it was in vain,” Nduku said, speaking amid interruptions from patrons at her workplace in Machakos town.

Locals fondly refer to Nduku as “Mtoto wa DG” (DG’s daughter).

“People have nicknamed me ‘Mtoto wa DG’. It pains me when I juxtapose my life with my father’s flashy lifestyle, showing zero interest in me,” she said, tears rolling down her cheeks.

Having been raised single-handedly by her grandmother, Nduku says she has endured significant hardship.

“I have texted him and even tried visiting his office, all in vain. My uncles and aunts have attempted to reach him, but he has never granted us an ear. Sometimes, I see him peep through the window when I am near his office,” she lamented.

Her ultimate desire is to be acknowledged by her father.

DNA challenge

“I am ready for DNA tests. I dare him. I am his look-alike. Our physical features speak volumes,” she added.
Nduku’s mother, now married and living in Kiima/Kimwe on the outskirts of Machakos town, described Mwangangi as a man “living a lie”.

“I never expected a man of his calibre to be linked to family disputes and paternity battles. Even when we were together, I noticed the red flags before our relationship turned toxic. He walked away after two years, while I was pregnant with Nduku,” Muendi said.

According to her, multiple attempts to have Mwangangi accept parental responsibilities have been futile.

The Deputy Governor, for his part, remained elusive, offering only a brief, cryptic comment while linking the matter to political rivalries.

“My office and I are very much available for anyone who wants to see or meet me,” he said, without addressing the paternity allegations directly, hinting instead at the manoeuvrings of a local MP eyeing the Machakos gubernatorial seat in 2027.