NAIROBI, Kenya – Media personality Oga Obinna has sparked debate after proposing a law that would punish women who knowingly mislead men about the paternity of their children.
In a video shared on Instagram, Obinna proposed that women who falsely tell men they are the biological fathers of their children should be required to refund all the money spent raising the child if a DNA test later establishes that the man is not the biological father.
Obinna proposes repayment of child expenses
Obinna said the repayment should cover expenses incurred by the man while he believed he was supporting his biological child.
“You pay back all the money that he has ever invested in the child, be it school fees, medical, diapers; you pay it all back,” he said.
He proposed that women who are unable to repay the money should face imprisonment.
Obinna suggested a minimum five-year jail term for cases involving deliberate deception over a child’s paternity.
“New law! Men will agree, women won’t,” read text accompanying the video.
Kenyans divided over proposal
The proposal has generated mixed reactions among Kenyans on Instagram, with some users supporting tougher consequences for deliberate paternity deception while others raised concerns about the possible impact on children.
Some commenters used the discussion to call for DNA testing to become routine.
“Let’s make DNA mandatory,” Gabriel Maingi wrote, while Mummie Francie suggested incorporating DNA testing into maternity services.
Supporters call for accountability
Other commenters focused on the financial responsibilities men may assume when raising children they later discover are not biologically theirs.
Lily Amour2, who identified herself as a woman, supported Obinna’s proposal, writing, “As a woman I agree, juu mbona upee mtu mwingine responsibility.”
Martin Teshh also backed the proposal, writing, “I agree. 100pc. Kila mtu abebe mzigo yake.”
Big Stepper similarly expressed support for the idea.
Concerns raised over children
However, some users questioned whether criminal penalties would be the appropriate response, particularly where children could become caught in disputes between adults.
Sitati the Manager raised concerns over the potential consequences, writing, “Noo. Watoto watateseka maze.”
The debate consequently extended beyond financial responsibility to questions about how paternity disputes should be handled without placing children at the centre of adult conflicts.
Obinna raises false accusation proposal
Obinna’s video also touched on a separate proposal involving false allegations against men.
He argued that women who deliberately make false claims of sexual abuse or gender-based violence should face the same punishment that the accused man would have faced if convicted.
That proposal also drew support from some commenters, with one user responding, “But hio ya pili iko sawa.”
