Court proceedings in the child custody dispute between Pastor Victor Kanyari and Hiram Gitau, popularly known as Tash, have revealed that Tash sought KSh 1 million in compensation for caring for the late gospel singer Betty Bayo’s two children, Sky and Danny.
According to the proceedings, Tash asked the court to order Kanyari, the children’s biological father, to reimburse him for expenses he claimed to have incurred while raising the minors. However, the court dismissed the request after he failed to provide receipts or financial records demonstrating that he had spent the amount he was seeking.
The judge explained that the court was dealing with a children’s matter focused on the welfare of the minors and was not the appropriate forum for settling financial disputes between adults. The decision emerged as the court examined the competing arguments presented by Tash and Kanyari during the custody battle.
The proceedings also addressed disagreements over the children’s school fees at Woodcreek School. Tash reportedly presented admission letters but did not provide sufficient documentation to demonstrate that he had been paying the fees. Kanyari, on the other hand, presented financial transaction records to support his position regarding the children’s education expenses.
The report further indicated that the school fees arrears had reportedly reached as much as KSh 1 million, adding another dimension to the dispute over who had been meeting the children’s financial needs.
In its 16 page judgment, the court ultimately ruled that Kanyari was better placed to take full custody of Sky and Danny. The decision followed an assessment of the children’s welfare, their existing relationships and living arrangements, as well as the parties’ ability to provide for their daily needs and education.
The ruling has attracted public attention because Tash had helped raise the children during his marriage to Betty Bayo, who died in November 2025. The case has since sparked debate about the children’s future and the competing claims surrounding their care following their mother’s death.
The custody dispute has also drawn attention to the challenges facing blended families when questions of parental responsibility and children’s welfare arise. The court’s decision placed the children’s care under their biological father, despite Tash’s role in their upbringing.
The details surrounding the KSh 1 million compensation request have added to the scrutiny of the case, which has become a highly publicised dispute involving the family of the late gospel singer.