Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko stirred national attention after sharing an emotional message about receiving a distress call from one of his daughters, who said she felt unsafe in her own home.
The fear in her voice, he said, cut deep. It was the kind of call no parent is ever prepared for, the kind that forces you to drop everything and act. His response was immediate, driven by instinct and love.
Sonko turned that painful moment into a wider reflection on the silent suffering inside many Kenyan homes. He questioned how many daughters, sons, and spouses live with fear but never speak up and how many endure harassment or emotional turmoil with no one to defend them.
His daughter Saumu has in the past opened up about experiencing domestic violence in a previous relationship with a former Lamu senator.
She has also spoken publicly about her journey with bipolar disorder and how the trauma she faced complicated her healing. By sharing her truth, she became one of the few public figures willing to confront an issue many families choose to hide.
Sonko used his latest message as a call to action. He urged young couples to choose dialogue over anger and to pause before reacting in ways that harm the people they once vowed to protect.
To him, love should never turn into fear, and a home should never transform into a battlefield. He reminded Kenyans that safety is a basic expectation, not a privilege that only a few deserve.
His message ended with a truth that resonated widely. No parent should ever receive a terrifying call from their child, and no partner should ever cry alone in a place that is supposed to give them peace.
By Kamaru Mathenge
