Seven people from Kenya have won a case at the Family Court in London to prove they were fathered by British men working at an army base in their country. Commercially available DNA databases were used to identify otherwise unknown fathers, with six having served at the British Army Training Unit in Kenya (Batuk) and one working as a contractor. It's the first time paternity has been proved in this way in a UK court, potentially allowing these individuals to apply for British citizenship.
The claimants were represented by British lawyer James Netto, who, alongside geneticist Denise Syndercombe Court, participated in a project to collect DNA samples and testimonies from the Nanyuki region of Kenya. Many people in this area believed their fathers had served at Batuk, the largest British army base in Africa, leading to this unique approach to paternity claims.
One of the claimants, Peter Wambugu, expressed the joy and relief he felt upon discovering the identity of his father, whom he had always known about but never met. He detailed how growing up mixed-race and without his father had affected him, but the reunion brought him a sense of closure and happiness.
Another claimant conveyed feelings of abandonment stemming from her father's absence in her life after a single meeting at age four. This ruling highlights the emotional impact of paternity and the importance of reconnecting families.
James Netto expressed hope for others in similar predicaments, emphasizing that many near Batuk share their stories and may soon find answers about their fathers. He urged the Ministry of Defence to take more responsibility regarding paternity claims against servicemen connected to Batuk. The Ministry acknowledged that these matters are personal but have cooperated with local authorities on claims related to such situations.
This story, covered by the BBC as part of a forthcoming podcast series, marks a significant advancement for those affected by paternity issues related to military personnel.
The claimants were represented by British lawyer James Netto, who, alongside geneticist Denise Syndercombe Court, participated in a project to collect DNA samples and testimonies from the Nanyuki region of Kenya. Many people in this area believed their fathers had served at Batuk, the largest British army base in Africa, leading to this unique approach to paternity claims.
One of the claimants, Peter Wambugu, expressed the joy and relief he felt upon discovering the identity of his father, whom he had always known about but never met. He detailed how growing up mixed-race and without his father had affected him, but the reunion brought him a sense of closure and happiness.
Another claimant conveyed feelings of abandonment stemming from her father's absence in her life after a single meeting at age four. This ruling highlights the emotional impact of paternity and the importance of reconnecting families.
James Netto expressed hope for others in similar predicaments, emphasizing that many near Batuk share their stories and may soon find answers about their fathers. He urged the Ministry of Defence to take more responsibility regarding paternity claims against servicemen connected to Batuk. The Ministry acknowledged that these matters are personal but have cooperated with local authorities on claims related to such situations.
This story, covered by the BBC as part of a forthcoming podcast series, marks a significant advancement for those affected by paternity issues related to military personnel.
