In a groundbreaking legal decision, seven individuals from Kenya have successfully proven their paternity in a UK Family Court, establishing that their fathers were British men stationed at an army base in Kenya. This marks the first instance in UK legal history where paternity was confirmed through commercially available DNA databases. Six of the fathers had served at the British Army Training Unit in Kenya (Batuk), while one was a contractor. The ruling paves the way for the claimants to pursue British citizenship, offering them a long-awaited resolution to their identity struggles. The case was spearheaded by British lawyer James Netto and geneticist Denise Syndercombe Court, who collaborated on a project to collect DNA samples and testimonies from residents in Kenya’s Nanyuki region, near Batuk. Many individuals in the area had long suspected their fathers were British servicemen, but lacked concrete evidence. The project utilized public DNA databases to connect claimants with their UK-based relatives. Among the claimants is Peter Wambugu, a 33-year-old chef, who shared his emotional journey with the BBC. Peter grew up knowing his father was a British soldier but never met him. He endured childhood bullying due to his mixed-race heritage and carried the pain of abandonment for decades. After reuniting with his father, Peter expressed profound relief, stating that the pain of discrimination had transformed into joy. Another claimant, who remains anonymous for legal reasons, recounted meeting her father only once at age four and growing up feeling deeply abandoned. James Netto hailed the ruling as the culmination of an arduous journey for many families, emphasizing that it provides answers to long-standing questions. He noted that numerous others near Batuk face similar challenges, particularly those with limited information about their fathers. Andrew Macleod, a lawyer involved in the DNA project, hopes the case will prompt the UK Ministry of Defence to address paternity claims more proactively. The Ministry stated that while such claims are considered private matters, it cooperates with local child support authorities when necessary. This case is part of a broader investigation by the BBC, featured in an upcoming five-part podcast series, ‘World of Secrets,’ which explores the complexities of identity and paternity in Kenya.