Single father in Aktobe Region fights to keep custody of his two daughters

Bauyrzhan Kaisiev, a resident of the village of Sogaly in Aktobe Region, is raising his two daughters, aged 13 and 11, on his own and fears they may be taken from him. As reported by infohub.kz, the man and his daughters have lived together in an old adobe house since his wife left the family, and his money barely covers the bare necessities.

The man recently retired and says his payments have been shrinking every month. But what frightens him more than financial hardship is the prospect of losing his children.

"First I received 70,000 tenge, then 140,000 was transferred for two months, then 60,000 came, the next month 50,000, and the last time 36,000 arrived. I don't know why it keeps going down. I get by as best I can, picking up odd jobs. Of course it's hard. On top of that, officers from the juvenile affairs unit keep coming and threatening to take my daughters away," Bauyrzhan Kaisiev said.

According to district officials, the low pension is because the head of the household did not work officially in recent years. He is now being helped to confirm his employment record.

The case is further complicated by a court ruling. The Kaisievs officially divorced two years ago, and the court ordered that the children live with their mother.

"Bauyrzhan Kaisiev is currently working to have this court decision reviewed. The family receives the necessary support on an ongoing basis. The education department allocates financial assistance of 50,000 tenge per child every year to prepare for the new school year. In addition, in 2025, in response to the family's request, financial assistance of 100 MRP, amounting to 393,000 tenge, was provided under a program to support citizens in difficult circumstances," said Murat Kulbergenov, deputy akim of Kobda District.

For the father, however, the issue is not only about money and everyday hardship. He asks that his family be kept together and that he not be separated from his children. How the legal dispute ends and with whom the girls ultimately stay now depends on the decision of the authorized agencies and the court.